Opelousas,La(KADN)- In the hopes of improving water quality, the Opelousas City Council approved increasing water and sewage rates.
"The water is all over the road and they want to go up on our bills," says Opelousas resident Annie Fontenot.
Fontenot believes the city should have made the water crisis a priority. She says because of the poor quality, everything is stained. "This. This could be whiter, I need to get me some new ones. I am embarrassed. Find out what is wrong with the water and fix it."
Over the next three years, the city council says it will gradually increase water and sewer bills for Opelousas residents and businesses.
A fee is something Cindy Foret doesn't believe should happen.
Foret says it simply because water troubles have been an issue for so long. "They send these letters in the mail in the mail, they say the water is good, but then they say the water is an F. All that money the government sent to the city to fix when the covid was going on. What they did with all that money."
Even though her family has a water filter they are still cautious.
Foret admits getting water from the grocery store is expensive, but she has no choice. "We don't have good water. You know you can drink the water."
Fontenot is optimistic, hoping the increase will save her some money. "If the water is good we would save that much every month by us buying the water."
Both did admit if the hike actually makes the water better it will be a win.
But they are still hesitant as they've had bad water for some time now.
