NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Metro Water rates officially increased on July 1 to help fund improvements to storm drains and other equipment.

Bellevue and Madison residents will not be forced to pay higher fees until the fall. Customers who do not get a monthly bill from Metro Water won't be billed with the extra water fees until October.

The increased fee is about $1.50 to $4.50 more each month per bill.

"I just paid a fee on the water bill three weeks ago, and now they're coming back again with another fee?" said one man.

How much each customer pays will be determined by how many square feet of impervious surfaces they have on your property, such as driveways, patios and roofs.

The city said the projects will cost a total of $90 million.

The measure was proposed by Mayor Karl Dean in February and later approved by the Metro Council. Dean said the city's antiquated sewer and water system was in desperate need for improvements and this bill increase will help substantially to make improvements.

Visit the Metro Water Web site to learn more about the new stormwater fee and find out how to dispute a bill and ask for a fee review.