WARREN — City leaders discussed plans Wednesday to raise sewer rates to fix aging wastewater systems and meet federal guidelines.

The Water and Water Pollution Control Committee met with experts from the engineering firm AECOM. They explained why rates need to go up and how much more residents might pay.

Tanner Adair, a civil engineer with AECOM, said the city’s sewer system is very old.

Parts date back to 1865, just after the Civil War. The wastewater treatment plant was last majorly updated in 1987.

“We’re at a point where we can’t keep putting money into this old system,” Adair said to the committee. “We need big repairs now.”

Adair explained that the firm has worked with the city for years. They did a study showing that without rate hikes, the city could lose millions of dollars each year on sewer costs. Adair said recent jumps in prices after COVID-19 made things worse.

Officials said delays in past updates and rising costs left them no choice but to act now. The committee did not vote Wednesday, but plans to consider the changes soon.

Justine Rose, another AECOM engineer, shared the proposed changes. Right now, the basic charge is $4.66 per 100 cubic feet of water used for sewer billing.

For 2026, they suggest a 25% increase to $5.82 per 100 cubic feet, plus a new $3 monthly sewer maintenance fee.

Rose explained that the minimum monthly bill for most homes would rise from about $10.86 to $14.64. For an average household using 4,000 gallons a month, the yearly bill could go up to approximately $410.

Rose also explained that the increases would continue, but get smaller over time with another 25% in 2027, then 15% in 2028 and 2029, 10% in 2030, and 5% each year after that. According to their data presented to council, those living outside the city would pay more, about 1.5 times the inside rates.

Lauren Cifranic, a graduate engineer with AECOM, showed how Warren’s rates are low compared to other Ohio cities. In 2023 data from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Warren was at the bottom of the list for similar-sized places like Reynoldsburg and nearby spots like Youngstown. Even after the hikes, Warren would still be in the middle or lower by 2030, she said.

City officials said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pushing for these fixes. Michael Welke from the city’s water pollution control department noted that old equipment is breaking down, causing problems like too many solids in the system. “We have to do this to stay out of trouble with the EPA,” he said.

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin asked about state comparisons. The experts said Warren’s rates are below Ohio’s average of about $500 a year.

Council members worried about people on fixed incomes.

Greg Steinbeck, D-at Large said, “Nobody wants increases, but it’s moderate compared to others.”

Eddie Colbert said the city has kept rates low for too long, which limited grant help.

Ron White, D-7th Ward, warned that without rate raises, the department can’t pay for loans or projects.

“We are mandated by the EPA to make changes,” he said. “We’re still going to be far lower than anybody else.”

The city has gotten some low-interest state loans and about $4 million in debt forgiveness each year to help.