The Western Hills Water District board on Saturday approved a huge increase in water service rates in an attempt to maintain a water supply for the 600-home Diablo Grande community in western Stanislaus County. The Kern County Water Agency, some 200 miles away, had threatened to stop water deliveries June 30 if the financially troubled Western Hills district did not resume payments for an annual 8,000 acre-feet allocation. Mark Kovich, president of the Western Hills board, said at Saturday’s meeting that district representatives would meet with KCWA officials Monday to discuss the next steps. Last week, Kern’s board took action to extend the deadline related to the potential water shutoff to Sept. 30. KCWA has said it would continue deliveries through Dec. 31 if the Western Hills district came up with money to make monthly payments, so that date remains in effect with the water rate increase approved Saturday.