HAMPDEN – A public hearing tonight will give ratepayers an opportunity to weigh in on a proposal to significantly hike water rates for customers of the Hampden Water District. The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at the Hampden Municipal Building.

The district is seeking the increase to cover increased operating costs, including a 23 percent rise in the price it pays to purchase water from the Bangor Water District, and to pay off additional debt incurred from its upgrade of the system.

The increases, expected to go into effect May 18, would be 64 percent for residential and commercial users, 71 percent for public fire protection and 64 percent for private fire protection.

Hampden recently completed a $2.4 million upgrade to its water system, which included the addition of a new pumping station, the installation of new pipelines, and a new chlorinating system.

The rate hike should come as no surprise to rate payers, according to Cam Torrey, superintendent and general manager of the district. He said last week that his office has sent out information about upgrades and other cost increases. Torrey added that he had received about 12 phone calls since notification of the hearing went out.

The current minimum residential rate is $34 for 1,200 cubic feet of water. As of May 18, the minimum rate would increase to $55.75. The increase for fire protection in Hampden totaled $107,000, but is not expected to significantly affect the budget.

Town Manager Susan Bruno said Friday that last year, the water district was considering a 45 percent increase for fire protection. That amount was budgeted but not spent. Bruno said that the additional $37,000 needed to cover the 71 percent increase could be moved from surplus. She added that the increase for water used at municipal buildings was not significant compared to the cost of water for fire protection.

The town water system was installed in 1938 and needed significant upgrades to meet federal water quality standards, Briggs said Friday. Councilors met with trustees last week to discuss the proposed increase.

“We were more concerned about senior citizens on fixed incomes receiving another $50-plus bill, than we were about the rate increase to the town,” he said in explaining the reason for the meeting. “The projects that have been done that are partly the reason for the increase improved water quality for water district customers.”

About half of Hampden’s residents are water district customers, while the rest have private wells, according to Torrey.