This afternoon, the city's Utility Rate Advisory Commission will consider proposed rate hikes. Dave Brent is with Sacramento's Utilities Department.

"We have pipelines that have been…were put in place at the beginning of the 1900s. And lots of those are breaking, are full of roots and the sewer backs up into the streets. And those are the issues that we're trying to address."   

Brent says the department will look for federal grants to help pay for upgrading the system…but ratepayers will also have to pitch-in.

Under the rate hike proposal…people who live within city limits would see monthly rates increasing for water by $3.40 and wastewater by $2.30 - beginning next July.

The commission's recommendation will be passed along to the City Council.