Folks paying for Youngstown's sewer system may see a rate hike on their sewer bills soon.

Youngstown City Council will consider a 5% price increase and will discuss the matter during a special council meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Hiking the prices by 5% would help the city cover the costs of its wastewater improvement project to stop sewer overflows in the city, according to Councilman Mike Ray.

It's part of a consent decree between the city and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to solve the problem, which reportedly killed fish and led to high bacteria levels in Mill Creek Park.

Ray tells 21 News that with the capital they had on hand for the project, they're taking on debt that needs to be covered.

According to Ray, the rate hikes were recommended Arcadis Consulting, which gave the lowest possible number the city would need to pay for the project while also not imposing too much on the residents.

"We've avoided raising rates for as long as we possible could," Ray said. "But this time, it's necessary to stay in compliance with the terms of our consent decree with the EPA."

Ray adds that this hike would impact anyone who uses the city's sewer system.

21 News is working to find out how much a 5% increase would impact an average bill.

The EPA has encouraged the City of Youngstown to construct a wet weather facility to treat excess combined sewage overflows during storms where Crab Creek and the Mahoning River meet downtown. The entire project comes in with a price tag of $240 million.

In May, the city approved a $3 million contract to begin designing that facility.