The Adairville city council voted this week to raise water rates 10 cents per 1,000 gallons in order to compensate for a similar increase that takes effect next month by the Logan Todd Regional Water Commission.

The Logan Todd Regional Water Commission is raising its rates eight cents per 1,000 gallons.

LTRWC, which gets its water from the Cumberland River and processes it at a state-of-the-art facility in Guthrie, acts as a wholesaler while the individual water districts and municipalities — including the city of Adairville — act as retailers. All water in Logan County comes from LTRWC.

When LTRWC raises the price for water, the districts and cities must choose whether or not to pass the expense on to customers.

The council had first reading to change the water rate ordinance on Monday at their regular monthly meeting and then voted on the second reading of the ordinance on Wednesday evening at a special called meeting.

There had been discussion of having an automatic rate increase every year, which is what Auburn did three years ago the last time Logan Todd raised its rates.

“They decided not to do that and only take the 10 cent increase,” said city clerk Sharon Head. “It wasn’t really seriously considered.”

The city is in the process of making a community development block grant (CDBG) application for sweeping water improvements to the city.

“We are going to wait and see and hopefully these improvements will help save us money in the long run so that we don’t have to raise our water rates any further,” Head said.