ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. -- St. Johnsbury residents can expect to see their municipal water bills go up steadily over the next decade as the community funds more than $12.6 million in water and sewer upgrades.

Town officials said the yearly increases will range from about 2 percent to 17 percent, with a 6.7 percent average. Town officials hope to flatten out the increases.

Officials said many of the upgrades are mandated by the state and federal government, including the costly separation of the stormwater and sewer overflow system.