Water bills in Lakeville skyrocket by hundreds of dollars

Some Twin Cities residents are seeing a spike in their water bills. Many in Lakeville saw their bills jump by hundreds of dollars.

Bob Tolley saw his water bill go from $180 to $800.

"For a guy who is out of work right now, kind of a sticker shock to tell you the truth," Tolley said.

The city says the increase in water bills is because of a dry summer.

"This year alone we’ve seen a 27% increase in water usage," Lakeville Public Works Director Paul Oehme said. "Water we’ve produced at the water treatment plant versus last year, so that just goes how much more water we’ve used during the summer months than in years past."

The city of Lakeville says it will check water meters free of charge to make sure they are working properly.