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Pasco, Washington, is raising water utility rates to finance a new water treatment plant, estimated to cost $260 million. The aging Butterfield Water Treatment Plant, built in the 1940s and operating at near-maximum capacity, necessitates replacement.

The city plans to increase combined monthly water and sewer bills by up to $22 in 2026 and a total of up to $71 by 2029. Pasco officials are pursuing $80 million in low-interest loans and are focused on improving water quality and sustainability as they enter the design phase of the project.