Denver Water's systems are aging, with some dating to the World War II era. That's one reason for the $40-average rate increase consumers will see next year. But if you hope to protest to the water board before the hike goes into effect, good luck. The board has already voted in favor of the increase. The fees, which will raise more than $1 billion for infrastructure over the next decade, go into effect in February, notes 9News. "An average person in Denver now pays around $350 a year for water. That's less than their cable bill. That's far less than their energy bill with Xcel. I don't want to minimize the impact on people, but if you keep your usage reasonable, you're not going to pay a lot for water," says Denver Water Manager Chips Barry. Last year, the average residential customer faced a $20 hike, and over the last decade, the amount a typical user pays has doubled, according to Westword. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold meetings next month to discuss the environmental impacts for Denver Water's proposed doubling of the Gross Reservoir in Boulder County, writes the Denver Business Journal. The city says the expansion, from 41,811 acre-feet of surface water to 113,811 acre-feet, would help protect Denver during droughts.