The Rome City Commission will consider in December a 3 percent increase in water and sewer rates, effective Jan. 1.

The city’s water and sewer committee recommended the hike — which would add $1.50 to a typical $50 monthly residential bill — at its Tuesday meeting.

Rates were increased about 12 percent in July, partly to compensate for the loss of $1 million a year in revenue when Mohawk Carpet closed its dyeing operation.

A study recommended further hikes of 2 percent for water and 3 percent for sewer in January, but City Manager John Bennett said state-mandated water restrictions are forcing a bigger jump.

“Even if they relieve the restrictions today, I don’t expect we’d sell enough water because of the emphasis on conservation,” he said.

The required 10 percent reduction from an already low winter-month production actually will translate into a 23 percent annual drop — and an estimated revenue loss of $4 million — Public Services Manager Kirk Milam told the committee.

The crunch comes in the middle of a $35 million facilities upgrade, also mandated by the state. City Commissioner Kim Canada noted there are also fixed costs for system maintenance and operation, regardless of the volume processed.

Sewer customers in the unincorporated area will see less of a hike, equal to the dollar value paid by comparable city customers, because of an ongoing effort to equalize the rates.

“We’re no longer charging county customers double,” Bennett said.

Floyd County’s wholesale water purchases are expected to increase 5 percent — the full extent allowed by a contract cap — because its rate was not increased in July.

Water and Sewer Director Leigh Ross said water suppliers around the region are starting to implement increases of as much as 30 percent to 40 percent to offset the required cuts in usage.

Canada and Commissioner Jamie Doss expressed frustration with the mandate, noting water savings in Rome’s Coosa basin won’t help the metro region’s water supply.

“We have a free-flowing surface supply that’s not even in the same basin,” Milam said. “The mandate is not a product of good science, or good planning or good engineering. It’s just a blanket ‘you’re all going to share the pain.’”

Local officials plan to meet with a Georgia Environmental Protection Division representative next week with documentation supporting a request for an exception.