By Merle Monahan/Contributing Writer/merlemonah@aol.com

WINDSOR—In order to qualify for a $1.3 million loan to fund drilling a new well, improve the town’s elevated water tanks and install new water lines for some areas of town, the Windsor Town Council had little choice but to raise water rates, according to Town Manager Kurt Falkenstein.

&uot;This will ensure that the town has the funds to repay the loan,&uot; he said.

The council voted to raise the rates, which will go into effect in July, at its most recent meeting.

Basic rates will increase from $16 to $24 for the first 6,000 gallons, payable every two months.

Residents with a consumption of 6,000

to 12,000 gallons will pay an increase from $2.50 to $4.75 per thousand gallons.

Connection fees will increase from $ 500 to $1,000 and facility fees from $3,500 to $5,000.

Falkenstein said the loan, secured from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), will fund several projects, beginning with a new deep, high capacity well on Courthouse Highway at a cost of $450,000.

Improving, or retrofitting the water towers so they feed from the top in order to rotate the water will cost about $88,000.

Falkenstein added that about $542,000 will go for new lines on Old Suffolk Road, Joyner Town Lane and Tyler Drive, while $250,000 is allotted for the engineering company.