Water and wastewater flat rates in Martensville will be going up effective March 1.
Martensville City Council voted at a meeting on Tuesday, February 15 to approve changes to the municipal Water and Wastewater bylaw. The changes include increases in both the water flat rate and the wastewater-sewer flat rate. This is the first hike in the city’s flat rates since 2006, and is aimed at offsetting rising operational costs.
Martensville operates its water and wastewater system as a separate utility funded by user fees. Water and wastewater operating costs are not funded by general property taxation.
Under the new, amended bylaw, the water flat rate will rise from $12 per month to $12.50 per month; and the wastewater flat rate will go up from $27.50 per month to $29 per month.
In addition, the bylaw introduce a ‘Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Replacement Fee” of $2 per month. These funds would be transferred annually to the city’s Infrastructure Replacement Reserve to replenish funds used for the upcoming water meter replacement project and other future needs.
The good news is that while water and wastewater flat rates could rise, the consumption rate for water is proposed to remain at the current rate, which was established in 2019.
According to the city’s administration, the bottom line is that monthly utility bills can be expected to rise by about $4 per month per account.
The new rates and fees will take effect on March 1 and be implemented on the city’s April billings for March usage. The amended bylaw also includes the addition of a monetary penalty on accounts which do not comply with the meter replacement project.