beaumont water

The water in Beaumont might meet state and federal standards for clean water, but the city is fighting an expensive battle to keep it that way.

The latest series of multimillion-dollar purchases to improve the water in Beaumont will likely put more greenbacks in the city coffers, but only after a seven-year period where the city will raise water rates an average of 5 percent each year, according to water utilities director Dr. Hani Tohme.