In Minnesota, residents say water bills doubled after rate hikes as the city says usage spiked

In Blaine, Minnesota, unusually large quarterly water bills have left some homeowners wondering whether an error was to blame.

Several residents said the new charges came in far above what they normally pay, with some bills close to twice prior amounts, adding to frustration over the rising cost of an essential service, KMSP reported.

Here's what to know

Blaine has increased its water rates every year since 2018, per KMSP, and the 2026 adjustment was about 18% under the city's tiered pricing system.

People who spoke about the bills admitted that they didn't expect totals that high.

Matthew Jarombek, who lives in Blaine, watched his household's bill rise from $311 to $743.

"My wife almost passed out when she saw the bill," Jarombek told the station.

Joel Rice, who lives in Blaine, said his bill came to $452, and he heard from neighbors whose totals ranged from the $500s to the $900s.

"These are just going up like crazy, and it was like what is going on around here that we have to keep paying higher and higher and they've been going up for years," Rice said.

A city spokesperson told KMSP that the city discussed the rate changes in several public City Council meetings in 2025 and later posted them on the city website.

More background

Ben Hayle, Blaine's communications manager, said residents are seeing the effects of both the approved rate increase and heavier summer water use.

He added the change fits the City Council's goal of relying less on borrowing and paying capital costs with cash on hand.

Jarombek objected to the increase. 

"We don't want to pay that [much] for water," he maintained, arguing the city is "using that money to subsidize the other projects they're doing."

Hayle said the first 24,000 gallons used in a quarter fall into Blaine's lowest billing tier, which he said is generally enough for a family of four that is not routinely watering its lawn.

According to Hayle, households that remain in that bracket usually see quarterly utility totals below $300.

He added that city utility bills also include sewer, garbage and recycling, and stormwater, meaning many residents pay under $100 a month for those services.

That combined billing structure can make unexpected increases feel even more severe.

What can be done?

The city says residents who think something may be off can ask staff to review their accounts and look into possible problems.

That can include situations where homeowners suspect a leak or see water-use patterns that don't match their property.

KMSP reported that one resident was concerned about being billed for overnight water use that their system wasn't programmed to detect. The city says it watches for continuous-flow indicators and other possible red flags.

Blaine proposed a smaller 5% increase for 2027, aiming to make rate changes steadier and more predictable.

Sharp increases in essential utility costs leave families trying to determine whether the jump is tied to seasonal use, infrastructure funding, or an account issue.

Rice described the moment he realized his high bill wasn't isolated to his household. 

"I started calling my neighbors, and it was $530, $590, $700, $800, $900, $650, and I was like, oh man, this is terrible."

Where can I learn more?

Residents in other parts of the country are also pushing back on steep water bills. These stories track rate hikes and affordability concerns in Virginia, Illinois, and New Jersey.

• In Hopewell and Prince George, residents faced a nearly 30% water rate increase from Virginia American.

• In Illinois, some households paid 3 times more as officials fought a $142 million hike.

• In New Jersey, residents braced for rates to rise 12% as shutoffs climbed.

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