A report says Flint's costly residential water bills could double in the next five years because of a continued loss of customers, increased operating costs, pipe leakage and other problems in the impoverished city whose residents face a lead contamination crisis.
The Michigan Department of Treasury on Friday released an analysis warning that the average residential bill of nearly $54 a month may rise to $110 by the 2022 fiscal year.
The typical residential bill has doubled since 2009 and is higher than in Flint's peer cities.
Factors in recent rate increases include population loss, a shrinking industrial base, years of no rate hikes and Flint both buying water and running a backup treatment plant.
Gov. Rick Snyder says "there's a serious problem that needs to be resolved."
