MADISON, Wis. -- Madison Water Utility rates are increasing, but a public meeting about the hike drew no attendees.

A Wednesday morning public hearing session at the Public Service Commission was the time for resident to voice their feelings about the new rates, but no speakers showed up. The meeting lasted roughly three minutes, WISC-TV reported.

Since there was no testimony in opposition to the rate hike, the PSC is likely to approve the increase, according to Madison Water Utility finance manager Robin Piper.

"I am a little surprised. I thought that with all of the publicity of late there would be a little more interest with this," Piper said.

The rate increase is equal to 16 percent. As a result, the water bill for the average homeowner will increase from $66.21 to $77.10 for a six-month pay period. That figure doesn't include the public fire protection fee that is part of the resident's total bill, WISC-TV reported.

Piper said that the increase is needed to handle added costs. The effort to deal with higher-than-normal levels of manganese found in some part of the city was a big part of the new costs, he said.

A public hearing notice was placed in the Wisconsin State Journal and the Capital Times on July 27 and recent criticisms of how the water utility is managed had managers expecting more of a critical turnout, WISC-TV reported.

However, no one testified for or against the rate increase.

Piper said he received one phone call about the rate increase and that a few other calls reached customer service.