The Town of Sylvan Lake has scheduled a Public Hearing for Jan. 10 to discuss an increase to the rates of water and sewage.

By Alessia Proietti

Public Hearing set for Jan. 10

Increases proposed for water and sewage rates in Sylvan Lake

Dec 15, 2021 | 4:07 PM

Water and sewage rates are going up in Sylvan Lake next year.

Following council’s latest meeting this week, a public hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 10, 2022 to amend the Town’s Water and Sewage Bylaw.

The increase proposed at first reading to the 1805/2020 Bylaw’s monthly fixed charge, consumption and collection rate, would be the first since 2018.

According to rate evaluations presented during the meeting’s 2022 budget presentations, Town officials say the increase would cover the cost to fund day-to-day operations and maintain and repair water, wastewater, and storm water systems. It would also help fund capital improvements like water and sanitary main replacements.

“Nobody likes an increase but we certainly are feeling those increased costs due to inflation, increased demand and we’ve got a higher price that we pay to export our wastewater,” said Sylvan Lake Mayor Megan Hanson.

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For both residential and non-residential properties of up to 12 rooms, water services are at a monthly fixed rate of $37.91 with a consumption rate of $0.80 per cubic meter. Sewage services are at a monthly fixed charge of $24.33 with a consumption rate of $2.50 per cubic metre.

The proposed amendment would increase monthly fixed charges by $0.76 for a total of $38.67. Consumption rates would increase by $0.05 for a total of $0.85 per cubic metre.

Officials say the rate increase would add $7.25 to a monthly utility bill per household based on a usage of 20 metese cubed, or 20,000 litres. Per year, that is $87 for 240,000 litres of water used.

“Our utility situation is a self-funding system which means that when our costs increase, we in turn need to increase the rate that is charged to cover our expenses for it,” said Mayor Hanson.

For the Town, it would generate about $421,215 per year in water and wastewater revenue. From this number, $336,468 would be from wastewater collection and $84,746 from water consumption.