Beginning early next year, Downers Grove residents will receive more expensive water bills as increases trickle down from Chicago and the DuPage Water Commission.

Residents currently pay $2.72 for 750 gallons of water, or one unit. Starting Jan. 1, that same amount of water will cost $2.87. Another increase will kick in May 1 upping the cost to $3.04.

Village Council voted unanimously during its Oct. 7 meeting to fall into line with water rate increases that were passed as part of Chicago’s 2008 budget and also approved by the water commission in April.

The rate hikes break down to 15 percent increases in 2008 and 2009 and a 14 percent increase in 2010 from the city to the water commission.

The cost to the village from the DuPage Water Commission increased this month from $1.25 to $1.93 for 1,000 gallons of water. Mayor Ron Sandack said residents will not see their increase passed down until January.

“The city (of Chicago) is starting the rate increase in October. We wanted to smooth out the impact on our customers,” Sandack said.

Downers Grove residents receive a water bill every two months. Right now, the average bill, based on residents’ typical consumption of 16 units of water per billing cycle, is about $43.52.

The cost for that same amount of water will rise to $45.92 in January and $48.68 in May, according to the village.

“This is really a user-driven system in that the more water you use, the more you pay, and the less water you use, the less you pay,” Village Commissioner Martin Tully said. “The water fund is an entrepreneurial fund, which means it is self-supported by its revenues. It’s not cheap to maintain this with the cost of materials going up.”