By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—The Pelham City Council received word of a Shelby County water rate increase during an April 7 work session.

“The cost will rise by 7 percent every year for five years,” said Pelham City Council President Rick Hayes in an April 8 phone interview. “This will have a very significant impact on our costs.”

Pelham currently purchases 30 percent of its water from Shelby County.

“This is going to be a challenge,” said Councilman Ron Scott during an April 8 phone interview, although he said he did not expect it to immediately impact home water bills.

“We have to work through what this is going to mean,” Hayes said. “We really don’t know right now.”

Hayes indicated that a Water Board meeting would be called next month to discuss the situation and possible alternatives.