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Estevan City Council discussed changes to its sewer service policy at last night’s meeting, with Water and Wastewater Services Manager Matt Angell raising concerns about the costs and strain caused by after hours calls.
Currently, the city offers one free auger service per year to residents. Angell explained that while the policy was intended to cover service during business hours, many requests are being made after hours, creating high overtime costs and requiring multiple staff.
“We’re finding that a lot of after hours is happening, which is costing quite a bit of money for these overtime calls,” Angell told council. “My crews spend a lot of overtime doing road work and call outs for water breaks, so being able to give them that time off is important.”
Councillor Shelly Veroba suggested the city could consider a fee for after hours service rather than providing it for free. “If someone cannot get a plumber and our staff can go out, is there an after hours charge that could be made known so people would know what they would be paying?” she asked. Veroba later recommended the matter be tabled until a cost structure could be brought forward.
Councillor Brian Johnson questioned whether the proposal would truly solve the issue, noting that workers would still be tied up after hours and potentially unavailable for larger emergencies the next day. He also pressed for more communication with property owners, especially those with repeat issues, saying some cases may require homeowners to invest in replacing their own sewer lines.
Angell acknowledged that many frequent callers are residents who have not been able to replace their side of the service line. “Sometimes they just call for a routine augering, not even plugged,” he said. “We try to encourage them to complete their side when we do ours, as it can be more affordable if done at the same time.”
Council ultimately voted to table the discussion until Angell can bring back a detailed report outlining the frequency of after hours calls, their costs, and potential options for updating the policy.