Water bills in Humboldt will go up due to a decision by council to increase water consumption rates by seven per cent.
The unanimous decision, made at the Dec. 10 meeting, will also see water and sewer flat rates, as well as sewer consumption rates, go up three per cent. Storm sewer rates will go up 2.4 per cent and garbage rates won’t change at all.
A household with a single person using 7.5 cubic metres of water will see rates for all utilities increase $4.20 to $116.43 per month, a household with a couple using 10 cubic metres will see a $5.08 increase to $130.89 per month and a household with a family using 13.5 cubic metres will see a $6.31 increase to $151.12 per month.
The reason water consumption rates are increasing is because the city signed a 20-year agreement with SaskWater in 2016 where the utility will increase what it charges the city by seven per cent each year for the first five years.
“We don’t like to do these things,” said Rob Muench, Humboldt’s mayor. “I know we’re into this agreement with SaskWater for seven per cent over five years, so that’s something we have no choice on, but on the other side of the coin, they’ve done a number of capital projects in Wakaw at the head end of our system.”
The mayor said those upgrades have decreased the number of boil water advisories in the city.
“It’s unfortunate that this has got to happen for five years,” said Coun. Michael Behiel, “but I think that the long term benefits that we’re going to see will far outweigh anything we’ve had to put into effect these last five years.”
Coun. Sandy Weyland said while the increases were needed to secure safe drinking water, those on fixed incomes will be affected.
“It’s going to be stretch for many people that are already struggling, that’s the unfortunate part,” she said. “I do feel for those folks that are going to have to have to sustain this fairly substantial increase.”
Muench said he expects water rates increase from SaskWater to go down after the five-year period is over.
