That was the sentiment of some at New Mexico American Water Company's informational session at Woods End Church in Edgewood. Customers of the system, facing an increase in rates, aired their grievances.

The new rate structure, which is awaiting the approval of the Public Regulation Commission, is primarily to pay for more than $1.5 million in improvements to the Edgewood system.

Should the new rate plan be approved, a customer with a five-eighths-inch water connection who uses very little water, 4,000 gallons a month or less, would be looking at a rate increase of about 27 percent, from $31.83 a month to $40.36 a month. Customers with the same connection using 7,000 gallons a month would see their rates increase from $47.46 a month to $64.36 a month, or about 35 percent. Heavy water users (15,000 gallons or more) would be hit with a nearly 50 percent rate increase and their bills would jump from $89.12 to $113.36.

The complaints were as varied as the people in attendance, some of whom asked the company to invest in more sustainable energy, some asked for pre-treatment for the hard water in the system, other requests were made to simply find ways just to keep the customers' bills low and there were even a few questions about laundry.

"How do you get that stuff out of your pants?" asked one of the customers, an elderly woman who said she was having trouble with hard water stains.

A water softener and vinegar was the answer offered by Tom Torres, who manages the local system.

There also are residents clamoring for rebates for low water use appliances or toilets. They have to pay for the appliances more often because of the hard water, so the water company should pay for it, argued a member of the audience.

New Mexico American Water Company does offer rebates for customers in Clovis, where the water supply is being depleted. The program is funded by customers' payments to the system, according to the company's representatives. The situation in the Edgewood area is the same, Jacobs said.

"Our demand has actually dropped a bit, to date," he said.

Denise Baccadutre, a retired teacher, was also concerned about replacing appliances. Her solution had to do with pre-treatment of the system's hard water, however. She said, in addition to having to replace appliances, she also buys water to drink and cook with because the tap water doesn't seem safe to her.

"It's hard on your body, it's hard on your clothing," she said. " … I've asked my husband, 'Why are we paying for this water?' "

Baccadutre did say that the employees at the water company have been great to deal with, but the issue is the quality of the product, she said.

The reality is, as a publicly regulated utility, the water company must justify any cost to the customers to the PRC, according to Evan Jacobs, a manager for the water company. He said the company is looking to do a feasibility study to see what the cost for treatment at the water source.

He pointed out that hard water is not considered a threat to people's health, so the demand for treatment has to come from customers. The problem is that not everyone will be in favor of having the water treated.

Torres said he could fill the same room with people who are opposed to increasing costs.