Washougal to increase water rates 21% in 2013  Dozens voice
objections at meeting; mayor says overhaul is needed  By Tyler
Graf, Columbian small cities and schools reporter    WASHOUGAL
-- A plan to raise base-level water, sewer and stormwater rates
by $37 next year has some Washougal residents gasping for air.
The city's rate increase in 2013 will be the third in a five-
year plan to bump residential bills by around 120 percent,
resulting in a $264 tab every two months for many households by
2015.  More than 70 people descended on council chambers Monday
for a special evening meeting, many saying they simply couldn't
afford the increases.  "I think it's ridiculous," Washougal
resident Adam Ruth said. "I understand the cost of doing
business. That's fine. But a 21 percent (one-year) increase
doesn't make any sense."  Ruth moved to Washougal from Camas a
year and a half ago and said he doesn't understand why the city
hasn't done more to help people conserve water. He said he
wished water rates would better ref