Bushnell, IL – Bushnell residents face a water rate increase to pay for some mains replacement.
Mayor Steve Russell says the city has received a $350,000 grant to replace about one-third of the water mains that are dispensing "red water."
The color comes from chemicals used to treat the water that react with material in the water mains.
Russell says the grant will take up to $120,000 in local match. However, that would leave about 47 blocks more to replace.
He says aldermen will increase water rates by about one-fourth.
They will also try for some state bonds with a 2.5 percent interest rate to allow the city to replace the piping more quickly.
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The bonds the city will try for come from the state E.P.A.
The grant to cover the first third of the job comes from the Community Development Assistance Program.
Russell says the rate hike should increase the average customer's water bill less than six dollars per month.
The red water problem began when the city began reverse osmosis treatment of its deep-well water.