County residents face a 31 per cent hike in water rates.
The increase affects Neerlandia, Manola and the MacGillivray subdivision and comes a week after a 20 per cent rise in utility bills for Town residents.
Last year Barrhead County Council raised rates by 20 per cent as part of phased increases throughout the area to pay for new filtering technology which will boost water quality.
Barrhead Regional Water Commission’s $13 million water treatment plant is scheduled for completion in June or July this year.
It is hoped people will notice a difference in water quality almost immediately after the project is finished.
At last Tuesday’s meeting, Barrhead County Council approved an increase by passing three readings of the Water and Sewer Utility Rates Amendment By-law (Amending By-Law No. 4-2003). It affects metered and unmetered services.
The increase follows a Jan. 23 meeting of the regional water commission which sells water to the town and county.
In a written report, County utilities officer Barry Billey said the municipality’s wholesale water purchase price had gone up from $1.30 to $1.70 per cubic metre effective Jan. 1, 2013.
As a result, 31 per cent had been added to the rates, he said. However, the sewer rate will decrease to offset the higher water rate.
Under the bylaw, the monthly minimum charge for metered water service will be $33.73 for the first 10 cubic metres or 2,200 imperial gallons of consumption. This is up from the previous $25.75.
Consuming more than 10 cubic metres, or 2,200 imperial gallons, will lead to a monthly charge of $11.40 per 4.54 cubic metres or 1,000 imperial gallons.
The monthly charges for unmetered water will be: individual dwelling units, $55.47 for each unit, up from $42.34; other applications, $86,67 for each unit, up from $66.16.
County operated water stations will see a charge of $1 for each 0.184 cubic metres or 40.5 imperial gallons. Last year the rate was $1 for 0.263 cubic metres or 57.3 imperial gallons.
County Manager Mark Oberg said sanitary sewer charges are based on what is charged for water.
Under the amended bylaw, the sewer service charge will be 40 per cent of the metered water consumption charges, a reduction from last year’s 50 per cent.
The exception is the May 1-August 31 period, when a single family dwelling will be charged 30 per cent of the water usage.
Where water service is not metered or not provided by the County, the sewer service charge shall be 50 per cent of the unmetered water consumption charge ($27.74).
Where weeping tile or other apparatuses collect surface water and connect to the sewer collection system, the sewer service charge shall be up to 100 per cent of the metered water consumption charges.
Other rates remain unchanged. These are: $38.94 per hour, for a requested service call and county employee to enter premises during normal business hours; $64.88, requested service call after normal business hours; $38.94, special meter reading (other than service termination); $38.94, meter test: $38.94, reconnection of water services that has been disconnected for non-payment of account; $38.94, water disconnection and reconnection during normal working hours requested by consumer.
Coun. Darrell Troock wondered whether the sewer charges could be split from water consumption rates and considered as a separate entity. Perhaps a separate formula could be used for fixing sewer rates.
Coun. Marvin Brade joked that if water rates were going to continue rising then people would resort to melting snow.
Reeve Bill Lee and Coun. Doug Drozd said water was not cheap and that was an unavoidable reality.
