CRANBERRY TWP — The average water customer’s bill in Cranberry Township is expected to increase by nearly $9 a month when a rate increase goes into effect in July.

That hike represents a 27 percent increase in the price per thousand gallons, an increase recently announced by West View Water Authority, which services every resident in Cranberry.

Township manager Jerry Andree said the township supervisors first must vote Thursday on the proposed increase, but added that he wants consumers to know the rate increase is coming.

“We’re giving people plenty of time to be prepared for the increase,” he said.

About 80 percent of the increase will go to financing the $105 million construction of a new water treatment plant in Beaver County.

The other 20 percent, Andree said, will go to financing the replacement of aging and outdated water meters for customers in Cranberry.

Those two increases combined will cost the average water customer an additional $8.85 a month.

Andree said the average household in Cranberry uses 5,000 gallons of water a month, with an average residential bill just under $30.

Cranberry residents can expect to see the increase starting July 25.