United Water is seeking approval from the state for an 18 percent rate increase, the company said. 

The company said it needs $30 million generated by the higher fees to pay for infrastructure upgrades and other expenses. 

An average residential United Water customer using 7,480 gallons of water per month would see an increase from $557 to $657, according to a report on northjersey.com. 

“This is a challenging economy, not only for our customers, but for the company. The cost of providing reliable water service continues to climb and we are sensitive to seeking a rate adjustment at this time. We must remain committed, however, to providing uninterrupted water service and maintaining exceptional water quality,” Jim Glozzy, United Water vice president and general manager, said in a news release. 

The company said planned upgrades included replacement of water mains, valves and fire hydrants, and a water quality treatment program for a supply well in Franklin Lakes. 

“This rate filing is necessary for us to continue to ensure the safety and reliability of our water system and to meet increasingly stringent water quality regulations,” Glozzy said in the release. 

United Water will also replace its quarterly billing for water service for its residential customers with monthly billing. 

A United Water project to upgrade the dam at the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir is currently pending.

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