If they haven't already, Southlake residents are about to see a rate increase in their utility bills in March because of a water pass-through rate increase by the city of Fort Worth first announced in December.

Southlake residents and businesses, as well as those of 29 other cities including Westlake, are affected by this rate increase because the city purchases water from the city of Fort Worth, said Bob Price, Southlake director of public works.

Southlake experiences rate increases when the city of Fort Worth does, which purchases its raw water from the Tarrant Regional Water District. Because of the demand for raw water, there has been additional infrastructure built to accommodate population growth and provide water to the local areas, resulting in Fort Worth's cost of raw water by increasing $9.3 million, according to a report by the city of Southlake.

"As the metroplex grows, we need more water to supply the growing population," Price said.

The rate increase is 12 percent for the first 40,000 gallons consumed, and any amount more than that results in a 16 percent increase, Price said.

The increase took effect in January.

Price said the city is working to conserve water. On June 3, TRWD and the city of Fort Worth implemented Stage 1 water restrictions, which limits watering to two times per week and still remains in effect.