Hinsdale residents may want to start cutting down their shower times—or maybe take a bath once in a while.

With the cost of water purchased from the DuPage Water Commission (DWC) increasing in 2011, the Village of Hinsdale Board of Trustees voted unanimously Wednesday to approve an ordinance that would put village residents on the hook for the difference.

According to Village President Thomas Cauley, the DWC upped its water rates by 10 percent in April. Based on Hinsdale's water consumption in calendar year 2010, the increase would cost the village more than $200,000, according to Wednesday's agenda documents. If 2011 consumption ends up being the same as 2010, a 3.6 percent rate increase for village residents would be needed to balance the water fund.

Cauley said the ordinance passed Wednesday creates a “pass through” for the village.

“This is a policy we’ve undertaken recently at the village because there has been a period of time where we were not passing our water rates as they increased to the residents,” Cauley said, “which caused, basically, [the village] to subsidize that increase.”

The DWC increase will raise the cost of water from $2.08 per 1,000 gallons to $2.29 per 1,000 gallons. Trustee Doug Geoga said the village in this case is “a price-taker.” The increase is non-negotiable.

“We’re going to pay this increase and the question is whether we will do so in a way that maintains the integrity of the approach we’ve taken to the water business that we’re in,” Geoga said. “I think this is the way to go.” 

Cauley said that if the village didn't pass the rate increase on to residents, the additional expense would be paid for with money that could be put towards fixing sewers.

Agenda documents also say Hinsdale residents should expect annual increases going forward. The DWC is at risk of losing $31 million in sales tax revenue in 2016.

Also Wednesday: 

• Trustee Laura LaPlaca said a first meeting has been had between the two companies that are expected to remove the dirt piles from Veeck Park. An agreement between John Burns Construction, Clark Dietz, Inc., and the Village of Hinsdale, LaPlaca said, is expected by June 1 and the piles are expected to be removed by midsummer, depending on the park’s ability to dry out after a wet spring.
• Cauley said there are vacancies on village commissions after the terms of numerous board-appointed commissioners expired on the Economic Development Commission, Finance Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Plan Commission. Anyone interested in applying, Cauley said, should email the village president a resume.