For the first time in more than 12 years, Rio Vista residents will see increases in water and sewer rates, after the City Council Tuesday night approved five years of rate hikes set to begin July 1. The amount of the increase depends on which treatment plant serves the neighborhood. Customers served by the Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant will experience the steepest rise of a 55% jump in the first year, followed by a 35% increase in year two and a 5% increase in each of the following three years. … City officials said the increases are necessary to fund long-deferred infrastructure projects and avoid system failures. Officials say Rio Vista is facing $23.4 million in capital project needs at the Northwest Plant and another $27.5 million at the Beach Plant. … Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Northwest Plant, which serves the city’s growing residential areas, faces an annual funding gap of over $300,000. 

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