Residents of Richmond can expect to pay higher water bills starting in November after city commissioners approved a 10-cent rate increase Oct. 2. The new surface water fee is set at $2.20 per thousand gallons, compared to last year's rate of $2.10. The fee was increased to meet requirements from the Fort Bend Subsidence District to reduce groundwater pumping, according to City Manager Terri Vela. "The proposed charge is to recoup the city’s cost of providing surface water," Vela said. For residents living inside the city limits, they can expect an average water bill of about $64.98 for water, sewer, garbage and surface water services. Residents living in Richmond's extraterritorial jurisdiction have water bills that depend on the particular fees associated with their municipal utility district. Residents will see the increase on their water bills starting this November.