HUMBOLDT — Water consumption rates in Humboldt will be going up 4.94 per cent for 2020.
The unanimous decision, made at the Nov. 25 meeting, will also see a two per cent increase to water base rates, sewer base rates and the sewer flow rate.
A household with a single person using 7.5 cubic metres of water will see rates for all utilities increase $3.22 to $119.64 per month, a household with a couple using 10 cubic metres will see a $3.88 increase to $134.75 per month and a household with a family using 13.5 cubic metres will see a $4.81 increase to $155.91 per month.
Water consumption rates are increasing because the city signed a 20-year agreement with SaskWater in 2016 that features a seven per cent each year for the first five years to pay for upgrades at the Wakaw treatment plant that has resulted in fewer boil water advisories.
Rob Muench, Humboldt’s mayor, said the increases are fair and the city has been making an effort to keep them as low as possible.
“These are some of the costs that we were incurring as a city, so we're having to pass those on to the consumer. We've tried to make them fair and keep them as low as possible.”
The mayor added that 2020 will be the last year the city will face a seven per cent increase. They are expecting increases to be in the three to four per cent range starting in 2021.
“I know that it’s a necessity to have this water increase,” said Coun. Sandy Weyland. “I still remain concerned about our residents, seniors, people on fixed incomes, people that don’t have jobs. There’s a bit of a downturn, people have been laid off.”
Last year, increases to the water consumption rate were seven per cent for residents.
