Water tap-in fees are set to skyrocket in Brackenridge, even though there’s typically little to no new construction in the borough.

The move is meant to replace an outdated rate structure and stop the borough from losing money, officials said.

New residential tap-in fees will quadruple, from $500 to $2,000. Fees for commercial tap-ins could cost up to $13,200, depending on the size of the pipe.

“The materials we are using (for tap-ins) we’re paying more for than we are charging,” borough Manager Chad Edwards said.

The previous rate structure charged $500 per tap, regardless of the size.

“That may have been adequate years ago, but the new fee structure is based on the cost of materials and labor, which increases with the size of the tap-in,” Edwards said.

The cost of installing a half-inch to 1-inch pipe, mainly for residential use, will be $2,000. Other fees, for commercial or industrial users are: 2-inch, $4,800; 4-inch, $7,500; and 6-inch, $13,200.

The increase was necessary to keep the borough from losing money, though the community is basically built-out, with infrequent new construction. The borough had no new tap-ins last year, according to Edwards.

He said the move was done with an eye to the future, as older properties in the borough are torn down to make way for new residential and business structures.

Routine updates are necessary to keep up with fluctuating costs, he said.

At the same time, borough officials look forward to more than $13 million in upgrades to the borough’s water treatment plant later this year.

The borough landed a $5.7 million grant and a $7.4 million loan through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PennVEST), a financing authority that provides help to address sewer, stormwater and drinking water projects.

Officials called it a major step toward the improvement of the borough’s water system.

Council is seeking contract bids and expects to open them in July.

Improvements to the plant — mandated by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection — include new piping, onsite water storage tanks and electronic system controls that will allow for automatic shutdown capabilities.

The project is intended to address turbidity, or cloudiness in the water, and ensure that water is adequately disinfected.

Work at the water treatment plant, situated off Freeport Road on Reservoir Drive, is expected to begin by late summer.

Staff writer Tawnya Panizzi contributed to this story.