BOARDMAN — Many Mahoning County residents can expect water rates to increase next year, just as other utility rates have risen.

At this week’s township trustees meeting, the board passed a resolution accepting the new rates from Aqua Ohio for the next four years. The total increase will be 20.5% during that period.

The current agreement, reached in 2012, expires Dec. 31.

Aqua covers about 24,000 residents in Campbell, Struthers, Lowellville, Poland and New Middletown along with Beaver, Boardman, Canfield, Coitsville and Springfield townships. Aqua negotiates directly with local communities rather than going through the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

In Boardman, about half of the residents get water from Youngstown through the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District and the rest from Aqua.

Township Administrator Jason Loree provided a document to trustees Monday that states this reduces the costs and constraints associated with filing rate cases with the PUCO, but the water provided is still regulated by that agency and the Ohio EPA.

Once the cities, villages and townships all pass ordinances and resolutions approving the rates, Aqua will bring a resolution to the Mahoning County commissioners to enact the new contract.

The new rates from Aqua will increase by 5% (about $2.98 for a 3,900 gallon bill) beginning Jan. 1, up to $11.68 per 1,000 gallons with a base charge of $16.90. In 2027, that goes up another 5% ($3.13) with a base charge of $17.75. In 2028, it increases by 5.25% ($3.44) and a base charge of $18.68; and another 5.25% ($3.62) in 2029 with a base charge of $19.66.

That rate is based on a five-eights by three-fourths inch meter size and roughly doubles for each increase in meter size.

The standard reconnection fee is $53.25, and the fee outside regular business hours is $163.43.

For spaces with private fire protection systems, the lowest rate for 1.25-inch hose connections will be $28.99 next year, increasing to $30.44 in 2027, $32.04 in 2028 and $33.72 in 2029.

The lowest rate for automatic sprinklers, those with a 2-inch connection, for spaces with 5,000 square feet or less, will be $85.20 next year, $89.46 in 2027, $94.16 in 2028 and $499.10 in 2029.

Jennifer Johnson, area manager for Aqua Ohio, said the rates are calculated based on what is needed to sustain capital investment in the area.

“This rate agreement is just for this local area. This is based on the amount of investment in the water system here in Mahoning County, so it’s very specific to this area,” she said.

Johnson said that, by the end of the current contract, Aqua will have invested $33 million in capital improvements to the water system — $12 million this year — and paid more than $11 million in taxes to Mahoning County.

Aqua said it has committed to investing an additional $40 million into water infrastructure over the next contract, including water main replacement, water plant upgrades, distribution system upgrades and lead pipe replacement.

Loree said he is not certain of the current rates for Youngstown water customers or when those will be renegotiated.