The City of Humboldt gave three readings and approval to a bylaw that would see the water and sewer rates increase for the 2024 year.
With the major wastewater treatment project getting under way in 2024, City Council heard a report that outlined a necessary 12 percent increase to sewer flow rates and sewer base rates to help cover the construction cost. The report noted a 6.5 percent water base rate increase to offset inflation and long-term water main replacements. The water consumption rate will see a 2 percent increase to offset non-revenue water losses and continued water meter replacements. The report noted that there is no change in rates from Sask Water proposed for 2024.
Taking into account storm levy and waste recycling charges, what this means for an average family’s residential bill is an increase of $6.57 per month, an overall increase of between 3.91 and 4.05 percent depending on the property’s consumption rate.
The resulting approximate increase of $223,900 in revenue will help fund the wastewater treatment expansion, continued replacement of water mains and meters, deployment of leak monitoring systems and addressing inflation on operational and maintenance costs.
Council passed the bylaw at a special meeting on Monday, December 18.