WATERTOWN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Voters in Watertown approved a referendum Tuesday evening which will increase residents' water and sewage bills by around $300 per year on average.

Around 2,800 voters approved the referendum with 71% voting yes. The referendum passed in all four polling places.

The reason for the referendum was in response to the town owing the neighboring city of Waterbury around $34 million for unpaid water and sewage bills. In 2018, the two municipalities' water and sewage agreement expired and Waterbury set higher rates, which Watertown refused to pay.

Watertown estimates that the average household, which uses around 50,000 gallons of water per year, will see an increase to their water and sewage bills of around $300 annually.

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