Representatives of the city and Ehlers Inc. presented a proposal to raise water and sewer rates to Carbondale residents Wednesday at the Carbondale Civic Center.

About a dozen residents showed up to the meeting, half of whom had questions. Mayor Joel Fritzler said it was a smaller crowd than he’d hoped to see.

The plan prepared by Ehlers Inc., a financial consulting firm, and Fehr-Graham and Associates, an engineering consulting firm, addressed the city’s need for increased revenue to make repairs to its aging water and sewer systems.

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Several displays illustrated the need for investment into the water system. Maps showed water main breaks and sewer line stoppages in the city. A complete list of needed projects was displayed, spanning several long sheets of paper and adding up to more than $100 million. A collection of rusted, dilapidated pipes sat in one corner of the room, as well.

The worn pipes showed the city had the choice to either pay more for its water or have no water in the future, Fritzler said.

Sean Henry, director of public works, said in the report the city currently raises $1.3 million a year for investment into the systems.

“That is just a drop in the bucket compared to what we need to do,” Henry said.

The plan calls for raising the investment to about $5.2 million by 2016.

The proposed 5-year plan is considerably scaled down from an original plan to make all needed repairs within 20 years, City Manager Allen Gill said. The plan simply wasn’t feasible, he said.

Gill compared the needed repairs to a grocery list.

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“This 5-year plan is only taking a bite out of that shopping list,” he said.

The proposed rates are based on a fixed monthly fee plus a charge based on usage.

The total cost for water and sewer for a resident using 2,600 gallons a month would go from $21.78 in 2012 to $35.41 in 2016.

Rates would also increase considerably for large users such as SIU. The university’s water and sewer bill will increase by $80,000 by 2016.

One resident asked Gill what assurance there was the system would not be privatized in the future.

“Your vigilance is the best answer I can give you,” he said.

Scott Thorne, of Carbondale, raised the possibility of the city maintaining a public list of repairs and improvements to the system that would be updated as they were done. Henry said it was something the city could look into.