After a six-week delay, DeKalb County raised water and sewer rates Friday by 10%, the first in a decade-long series of increases that will eventually bring in billions of dollars for a countywide infrastructure overhaul — and more than double the average household’s bill.

The county and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta also launched an affordability program Friday that caps water and sewer bills for low-income residents.

“We understand that any increase can be difficult for some households,” DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said in a news release. “This program will help keep water service affordable for our most vulnerable residents while we continue to make the necessary investments to protect public health and support our county’s growth.”

The county has about 180,000

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