Water rates in Windsor could increase at least 30 per cent over the next five years.

The Windsor Utilities Commission has approved an increase of six per cent per year for five years.

That would raise the average monthly water bill from roughly $33 to about $42 by 2015.

City council must sign off on the plan.

The Utilities Commission says it needs more money to rebuild aging watermains.

"Absolutely, we can justify it, said Coun. Ken Lewenza Jr., who chairs the commission's board of directors.

"The reality is borrowing costs even more money. But we believe this was a sensible smoothed-in option to help people make adjustments …Nobody that came to the ward meetings suggested that we do nothing."

City council has not indicated whether it will support the proposed increase.