Omaha-area residents will see their natural gas and water bills jump, thanks to a rate hike approved by the Metropolitan Utilities District.

The utility’s board has approved a 5 percent rate increase for water and a 2.6 percent increase for natural gas. That will mean an average increase of nearly $3 on residential customers’ monthly bills beginning in January, or a little more than $28 a year.

The utility’s board said the rate increase is needed to cover the costs of infrastructure replacement projects and debt service costs on 2006 and 2012 water bonds.

Despite the increase, the utility says its natural gas and water rates remain below the national average and are comparable to other utilities in the Midwest.