Twin Falls, Idaho - A public meeting was held Monday to consider a proposal to increase Twin Falls City water rates, to cover the debt service plan on a loan for the federally mandated arsenic compliance project.

Twin Falls City Manager Tom Courtney said "The purpose of this hearing is to discuss a rate increase of $11.15 per account, per month."

Back in 2006, Twin Falls entered into an agreement with the Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality, that would help the city reach the federal arsenic standards.

The standard had been at 50 p-p-billion, but the federal standard was lowered to 10 p-p-billion.

Courtney said, "In compliance with the federal standards, we are not changing the quantity of water, we are still maintaining the same amount, but it will be a much better quality of water."

The city plans to blend the low arsenic water from the Blue Lakes well, with the water from the higher arsenic water from the wells south of town; which would lower the overall arsenic levels between 10 to 13 p-p-billion.

The rate increase would pay back the 15 year loan, which is at an interest rate of 3.15 percent.