The Green Valley Special Utility District board of directors approved rate increases for water and sewer customers at the January board meeting.

In a March 22 release, GVSUD said the rate increase is driven by rising operating and maintenance costs, the expansion of water sources, sewer treatment and capital improvement projects.

“The phenomenal growth in our region greatly impacts the cost of doing business,” GVSUD General Manager Pat Allen said in a statement. “The development affects almost every budget line item, requiring more personnel, more supplies, more pipes, more operations costs and adds costs to all the smaller categories that feed into those line items.”

According to data provided by the GVSUD, an average single-family residence in the district utilizes approximately 6,200 gallons of water per month, resulting in a monthly water charge of $51.09 under the new rates.

In addition to the water rate increase, GVSUD sewer customers within the Santa Clara sewer shed will see a rate increase on their sewer charges with the new monthly base rate being $23.18 and an additional cost of $5.98 per 1,000 gallons.