The 4-2 vote was to increase the groundwater charges and treated water charges by 7.8 percent. Chairwoman Rosemary Kamei and Director Patrick Kwok voted against the recommendation. Director Joe Judge was not at the meeting due to a prior commitment.

Kamei did not return calls for comment by press time.

The new charges will go into affect July 1.

According to district spokeswoman Susan Siravo, the new charge translates to an increase of $.69 to $1.55 on the monthly water bill of a typical household.

Yearly water rates for the average five-person home have nearly doubled in the last seven years, from $130 in 2001 to $255 this year. The yearly increases have ranged from 8 to 11 percent annually. By 2017, South County residents can expect to be paying roughly $500 a year for water.

Siravo said the increases will allow the water district to maintain the services it currently provides.

"These charges fund the water district's work to provide a clean, reliable water supply to homes, businesses and agricultural users in Santa Clara County," she said. "The revenues enable the water district to provide water conservation programs which help residents save water and money.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District conducts various activities to protect and augment the natural groundwater supplies within specific zones in Santa Clara County. These activities include importing water, recharging groundwater basins, monitoring water quality and water conservation. Those who pump water within these zones benefit from the water district's activities, so the water district is authorized to charge users for the costs of protecting and augmenting groundwater in these zones."

During last week's regular meeting, directors approved a budget adjustment to cover prior costs for legal services for the perchlorate project in the amount of $450,000. Once the adjustment was approved, Director Richard Santos requested that a copy be sent to Morgan Hill City Manager Ed Tewes.

Tewes, who was not at Tuesday's meeting but was at a meeting Monday afternoon, had sent a letter on behalf of the city requesting the board adjust the way it is charging for its services.

Tewes said the district is charging $1.60 for $1 in value. He said specifically that Morgan Hill ratepayers are charged more than the value they receive from the district. On Monday, he asked the board come up with a plan to charge customers fair value for the services they receive. Santos responded to Tewes that the district paid a variety of costs associated with perchlorate.

After Santos requested Tewes receive a copy of the most recent perchlorate costs, Director Tony Estremera said, "You can send it to him, but you can't make him read it."

Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covers Morgan Hill education and public safety for South Valley Newspapers. Send her an e-mail.