Santa Barbara residents will pay about 3.5 percent more for water and sewer services beginning in July to help pay for infrastructure and cost-of-living increases for utilities workers.

A few residents protested the hikes at a state-required public hearing, which was held in City Council Chambers Tuesday. Those who spoke were particularly concerned about the significantly higher water rates for residents of Mission Canyon, who pay about 30 percent more than others because of the high cost of providing service to the mountainous area.

The water increases will amount $2.32 more on the monthly bill of homeowners who have a small meter; the hike will be $8.62 for those who are high water users. Water bills for Santa Barbara residents range from $50 to $224 per month.

Wastewater fees, which are collected by Santa Barbara County, will go up by 6 percent starting in July. The increase, which amounts to about $2 per month, will be used for long-term infrastructure upgrades and replacement of worn pipes.

Buy-in fees to the water system that are paid by new users will increase from $2,039 to $2,805 for those with a small meter. Wastewater buy-in fees, which are collected by the county, will rise from $1,418 to $2,240.

Water rates have increased by about 2.5 percent since 1993, according to the city’s water resource manager Bill Ferguson. The increases are due to rises in costs for salaries and upgrades to facilities due to new regulations on cleaner water.

Council members noted that the increases have been progressive, and that other cities such as Carpinteria have increased their rates much more dramatically over the years.

 “What’s happening in other areas makes these increases look reasonable,” said Councilman Das Williams, the city’s representative to the Cachuma Operations Management Board.

Fees for trash collection, or solid waster, will also increase minimally by 3.58 percent, which translates into less than a dollar a month for most residents.