The rate increases fall in line with the agency’s controversial 2020-2024 capital plan, approved by the board in March, which proposes annual water rate increases of 6.9% and an overall sewer rate increase of 22% over a five-year period for suburban customers. The price hikes will help the authority increase revenue as it looks to pay back debts incurred in 2013, when the agency entered into a $211 million lease agreement with Allentown to operate the city’s water and sewer systems through 2062.