Regarding the monthly water bill increase next year of $7 to protect Lake Whatcom, my question is: Why should Bellingham residents who live in, for example, the South Side, pay additional fees to protect the watershed when it's the local residents around Lake Whatcom who are polluting the lake? As a senior citizen on a limited income I am already paying over $67 a month for water and sewer. Now the city wants another $7. I say increase the water fees for those around Lake Whatcom.

Harriet Cooper

Bellingham