Littleton residents will likely face sewer-rate increases over the next three years so the city can pay to implement regulations imposed by the state without incurring new debt.

“We've got to get the word out that this is a huge issue,” said Councilor Bruce Beckman. “The rate hike is not our fault.” Rather, he said, it's due to demands placed on the city by the state.

The Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant is subject to stricter nutrient removal standards as of 2022. In order to accomplish that, city staff says design and permitting for the project needs to begin in 2017, with construction set to begin in 2019.

Currently, customers within city limits pay $233.02 per year; those outside pay $212.21.

Staff is proposing an increase of 2.5 percent in 2013 and 3 percent increases every year after that through 2017. That works out to about $6 more a month in 2013 for a single-family home in city limits, up to a total of about $262 a year in 2017.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $15 million, and Littleton splits that evenly with Englewood. However, adding on $5.75 million for required reserves, the city needs at least $13 million in the bank by the end of 2017.

“I can't think of any other way to do it that's responsible,” said Charlie Blosten, director of public works.

But Councilor Peggy Cole thinks it's unfair to charge people now for work to be done years from now, saying they might move and therefore not get the benefit of what they paid for. She wondered whether the increase could wait until 2018, but Blosten explained that would result in double-digit increases all at once.

“We know we want to get a more efficient operation,” said Councilor Phil Cernanec. “But you're going to have to drag me over a bed of hot coals to get me to go with a cliff-type increase.”

Council will have to approve the 2013 increase as part of approving the budget. That vote is scheduled for Oct. 16, and will include a public hearing.

The same night, council will take a final vote on raising the storm-water utility fee by 25 percent to help fund improvements to the system. This would be the first time since the utility was created in 1986 that rates have been raised.

“If fees are not increased, programs will continue, but it will take longer to complete projects or mitigate existing drainage problems or flooding threats,” reads the staff analysis presented to council. “Many residents have contacted staff with drainage problems, and some have been waiting for many years for funds to become available to address their concerns.”

For a single-family household, the annual fee would go from $24 to $30 a year.