New water, sewer rates approved

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
Claresholm town council has approved a new water and sewer utility bylaw that significantly increases water and sewer rates over the next three years.
At its March 11 meeting, council passed the final two readings of the new bylaw, which also included a change of watering. Instead of using the term water consumption in reference to sewage, which is not consumed, the term “sewer usage” is used.
Marian Carlson, the town’s chief administrative officer, noted one of the main changes is the reduction and eventual elimination of the permitted usage of water before a per cubic metre rate kicks in.
It will decrease from 25 to 10 cubic metres in 2019; from 10 to five cubic metres in 2020; and from five to zero cubic metres in 2021.
A sewer usage charge has also been added, derived by charging 50 per cent of the water consumption on monthly per cubic metre basis.
So, the new residential water rates are as follows:
Starting in May of 2019, the basic rate will stay at $36 per month with included consumption reducing from 25 cubic metres per month to 10 cubic metres and the consumption charge increasing from $0.80 per cubic metre to $1.30.
Starting in January of 2020, the basic rate will drop to $35 per month with included consumption reducing from 10 cubic metres per month to five cubic metres and the consumption charge increasing from $1.30 per cubic metre to $1.65.
Starting in January of 2021, the basic rate will stay at $35 per month with included consumption reducing from five cubic metres per month to nothing and the consumption charge increasing from $1.65 per cubic metre to $2.08.
The new residential sewer rates are:
Starting in May of 2019, the basic rate will increase to $13 per month from $10.90 with included usage going from unlimited to 15 cubic metres and the usage charge starting at $0.55 per cubic metre.
Starting in January of 2020, the basic rate will increase to $15 per month with included usage reducing to 7.5 cubic metres and the usage charge increasing from $0.55 per cubic metre to $0.72.
Starting in January of 2021, the basic rate will increase to $16.50 per month with included usage reducing to nothing and the usage charge increasing from $0.72 per cubic metre to $0.90.
First reading of the bylaw was passed at council’s Feb. 11 meeting.
The bylaw was also discussed at an open house hosted by the Town of Claresholm on Feb. 28.
“I thought the open house went well,” Carlson said.