Richland Township residents who use Quakertown water will see a 59 percent rate hike.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved it, but cut it back considerably from the 100 percent increase the borough requested.

About 950 Quakertown water customers live in Richland, and their average annual bill will go up by about $140.  The increase will bring in more than $150,000 a year to help pay for infrastructure improvements, including an arsenic remediation project for three wells in Richland Township.