Montville — The Water Pollution Control Authority has proposed a slight increase to the water rate, the first increase to customers in four years, according to WPCA administrator Brian Lynch.

Lynch told the Town Council Monday that Groton Utilities anticipates increasing the rate the WPCA pays for water by 5 percent in October. The changes proposed by the WPCA will pass the increase on to customers in Montville.

The stable rates paid by WPCA customers for the past four years have come at the cost of not adequately funding some of the expenses in the water budget, Lynch said. With the increase by Groton Utilities, now is the appropriate time to increase the rate Montville charges for water, he said.

After reviewing connection fees in Waterford, Groton, Ledyard and New London, the WPCA discovered its method of charging users based on average daily consumption is somewhat "antiquated," explained Lynch. The WPCA is proposing charging a fixed dollar amount based on a customer's meter size.

The $1,346,660 2014-2015 budget proposed by the WPCA is dependent on the water rate increase, said Lynch.

The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed increase at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 12 at Town Hall, after which the council will vote on the changes. The changes would take effect July 1.