SAN DIEGO -- The City Council voted Tuesday to send notices to San Diego water customers about a possible rate increase.

State law requires the city to notify affected ratepayers and give them a chance to vote on increases by mail before they can take effect.

A City Council hearing on the proposed increase was scheduled for Nov. 17, following tabulation of the mail ballots.

If the 7.75 percent hike is approved, a water bill for a typical single-family home in San Diego will increase by $4.73 a month to $65.76, according to a report from the Water Department.

The change would be effective Jan. 1, 2010.

According to the Water Department, the increase is needed to offset the higher cost of imported water from the San Diego County Water Authority.

Councilman Carl DeMaio cast the lone dissenting vote.

He said the so-called "pass through" rate increase wouldn't be necessary if labor costs were brought into check at the Metropolitan Water District, CWA and city through "reforms."

"The vast majority of funds paid for by San Diego working families in their water bill, the vast majority, goes to costs outside the commodity costs," DeMaio said.