CLEVELAND -- The average water customer in Cleveland now shells out nearly $200 a year -- a whopping 30 percent more than a year ago. Investigator Ron Regan finds out where some of your money is going.

Every year, Cleveland residents receive a Water Quality Report. By federal law, the city is required to tell water customers what's in their drinking water.

"It's the one time a year we can communicate with our customers in a meaningful way about the quality of our water supply and the ways we can protect it," said Chris Nielson, Cleveland's Water Commissioner.

In 2006, that meant a colorful four-page newsletter.

In an On Your Side Investigation, NewsChannel5 checked the numbers on Water Quality Reports from several cities around the country, to see how the cost of Cleveland's report stacked up.

Cost per copy:

Columbus – 6.5 cents

Akron – 7.5 cents

Corydon, Indiana – 9 cents

Cincinnati – 11.5 cents

Portland, Oregon – 12.5 cents

Miami, Florida – 14.5 cents

Cleveland – 25 cents

So, why are Cleveland's reports so expensive? Investigator Ron Regan uncovered what you're paying for before a single copy is printed.

-$26,950 for a creative consultant

-$27,650 in publicity fees

-$21,200 in creative fees ($100 an hour)

-$2,500 for a professional photographer

NewsChannel5 went to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to find out what's required by law.

"Whether it's a single sheet, or two, or four, that's the option of the water system as long as they have the mandatory information. Our rule doesn't require any (full color photos). We just specify the content," says Nancy Rice of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Regan reported that Cleveland's Water Department now promises to save you money.

"We are currently looking at ways to bring production of this document in-house and when we do, we may well save several thousands of dollars," said Nielson.