Columbia City Council Approves Controversial 150% Water Rate Increase

The Columbia City Council voted 5-2 Thursday night to raise water rates nearly 150% over the next five years, a move that has sparked public backlash, according to WSMV 4.

City leaders say the increase is needed to fund a project allowing more water to be drawn from the Duck River, which advocates warn could be strained by population growth in Maury County.

Currently, the average customer pays about $35 a month. Under the new plan, residential customers would see monthly bills rise by $7 to $14. Columbia Power and Water Systems (CPWS) said the projected increase is a ceiling and may be less as the project progresses.

The council chamber was packed before the vote, with residents and business owners voicing concerns for hours. Some questioned whether the steep hike unfairly shifts the financial burden to residents, while others supported the increase as a necessary step to address growing water demands.

Maury County Commissioner Gabe Howard said during a recent study session that the public deserves to know whether other options exist before committing to the increase.

The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership, established last winter by Gov. Bill Lee, has been exploring long-term solutions to the river’s water challenges, including a pipeline from the Tennessee River, raising the Normandy Dam, or revisiting the abandoned Columbia Dam project. The partnership released initial findings in November 2025, noting further research is needed on a Tennessee River pipeline.

CPWS and city leaders argue the approved project is “shovel-ready” and could be completed by 2029, while alternative solutions could take a decade or longer. A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation representative told the council the agency has approved necessary permits and sees no alternative as immediately feasible.