Kauai residents and businesses will pay 11 percent more for water beginning Jan. 1, under rate increases approved this week.

The Kauai Board of Water Supply voted unanimously for a new rate structure that will generate enough money to make upgrades to the island’s water infrastructure. The board also voted to review the rate structure annually for possible deferrals of rate increases.

Under the rate schedule, the water rate will go up 11 percent each year through 2014.

For a typical household, the Jan. 1 rate hike will amount to a monthly increase of $4.97, bringing that bill to $49.37.

Department of Water Manager David Craddick said the increases are needed to repair the island’s aging water system, parts of which are 80 years old.