Tom Bruns, Aqua Indiana, Inc. | www.aquaamerica.com/indiana

HEDC Vice President, Thomas Bruns, Aqua Indiana, Inc. | www.aquaamerica.com/indiana

Thomas Bruns, HEDC 2010 President HEDC President, Thomas Bruns Vice-President & Regional Manager Aqua Indiana, Inc. | www.aquaamerica.com/indiana

On Sunday night, Aqua found that an 8-inch water main had broken, draining a "significant" amount of water from the utility's supply, according to a statement issued this week by Aqua President Tom Bruns. One of the utility's water pumps also failed because of round-the-clock usage, Bruns said in the statement.

Last week, Aqua Illinois requested approval from the ICC for a 10.8 percent increase in revenue for the entire Vermilion division, according to Tom Bruns, vice president and regional manager with Aqua. The Vermilion division includes all of Danville and Tilton, Westville and Catlin, as well as Indianola and Philo, which are on a separate system. The rate increase means residential customers in those municipalities would see a 9.9 percent increase in their monthly bill, Bruns said, which works out to be a $4.83 increase on the average monthly residential bill. He said the average residential customer consumes about 4,700 gallons of water a month. Commercial and industrial customers, on average, can expect about a 10.8 percent increase in their monthly bills, although some commercial customers will see higher increases because they have unusually high usage, Bruns said. Aqua's rate increase will take the ICC 10 to 11 months to consider, Bruns said, and if granted at the amount requested, will generate an additional $2 million a year for Aqua. Aqua's last rate increase was in January 2008, and the company originally asked for 19 percent, and the ICC granted 15.6 percent, Bruns said. Bruns said customers will be receiving notification of the rate increase request in their bills this month. He said the company has also notified to community leaders. Aqua is asking for the increase primarily due to $11 million in improvements the company has made, Bruns said, and due to gasoline and electricity costs that are out of the company's control. According to Aqua, the company has invested $11 million in the following projects: