The cost of tap water is going up in New Orleans.  The city council today approved a plan to raise rates ten percent a year for the next eight years.

Backers of the rate increase see it as a necessary hardship to get to work fixing a system with a century-old infrastructure.

"For too long, too many councils and administrations have avoided raising the Sewerage and Water Board rates," said council vice president Jackie Clarkson.

Council president Stacy Head voted against it, saying that even with promises of a re-vamped and streamlined board, she hadn't seen enough to support increasing the cost of living in New Orleans, But, knowing the votes were there to approve the increase, Head vowed to make sure the water board does its job.

"As the chair of the public works committee I will hold those regular meetings with the Sewerage and Water Board...to make certain that these recently made promises are kept," Head said.