Valencia Water Co. officials announced a rate hike that will raise the average customer’s rate by by about $6.48 per month, officials said Friday.

The rate hike comes as water officials struggle to recoup income lost by local residents’ conservation efforts, which were mandated by the state in response to the drought.

Water officials noted the rate change was temporary, in a news release Friday.

“It’s until (VWC) recovers the revenue,” said Denis Wolcott, spokesman for VWC, “probably a year or longer.”

The rate increase shows up as a 41.2-cent surcharge, an increase of about 32.4 cents for customers, per 100 cubic feet of water, which is about 748 gallons.

Existing monthly service charges will not change, according to a VWC news release.

Due to the drought conservation project, the water company experienced a $5 million revenue loss.

The final approved proposal was actually lower than what was intended, according to water officials. The originally proposed rate change would have increased the average customer’s monthly water bill by $8.54.

The new surcharge rate will take effect Oct. 1.