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Ft. Madison, IA-- Fort Madison residents could soon have a new water treatment plant.

Congressman Dave Lobesack helped secure $51 million dollars in federal investments for his district.  Loebsack voted in support of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009.  That bill would bring $350,000 to Ft. Madison to make improvements to its drinking water.

But the bill hasn't passed yet...even though the city expects those funds, we found out how this new plant would affect Ft. Madison residents The project's expected to cost $15 million dollars.  Fort Madison City Manager Byron Smith told KHQA that residents will see an increase in their water rates.

Starting in April, rates will increase by 5%  That means residents will pay about an extra $1.50 each month.  Smith says the city desperately needs a new facility because parts of it are at least 100-years-old.  He also says, because the plant sits near the river, it's prone to flooding.

"The flooding last year got really close to the plant, and we've been in the works of trying to get that new plant going, but this will really put us ahead of the curve," Smith said.

The new plant will be built on the West end of town, off of highway 61, near the Siemens and Climax plant.  Construction is scheduled to start this summer.  It will take about 2 years to finish.

Smith says the city is trying to secure grants for the project, if that happens, residents rates will decrease.  The Omnibus bill goes to the Senate next week.