City water users face rate increases over next five years

By Jennifer SmithStaff reporterJan 17 2007 http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Water rates are going up or down depending on how much water you use. A new City of Kelowna water schedule given first reading at council on Monday will see water rates adjusted closer to the actual amount of water different categories of water users consume. “Low to moderate users could see a decrease in their bill while higher users could see an increase,” said Don Degen, water and drainage manager.

On most resident’s water bills, the change means a savings of three per cent or 68 cents per month. But for 12 Kelowna water customers it is going to mean a lot more money. Irrigation and agricultural customers currently pay a flat rate of $110 and $48 respectively, but under the new plan will be paying for more of the water they use. “These rates significantly under-recover cost of service for these classes,” Degen said in his report to council.

Rate increases phase-in the increases over the next five years, bringing the 12 customers up to 50 per cent of the actually cost of the water they use. The biggest one of these customers is the city’s own parks department. “The cost of delivering water, like everything else, is going up,” said Coun. Colin Day said as council listened to the changes. “I think it’s very important for staff to bring forward periodic increases in rates to keep pace with those increases in costs.” With the new rates, the city hopes residents might start to pay closer attention to their water consumption, yet council was also told the system itself needs work if the city wants to conserve water.

Some 12 per cent of water within Kelowna’s system is lost to leaks, Degen told council. It’s well below the industry standard of 25 to 30 per cent, but warrants a second look. “We’re going to get a lot more aggressive this year...We feel comfortable that we can pick up three to four per cent,” he said. Degen believes social mar­keting to sell the water conservation message is helping reduce Okanagan water consumption. “We need to reduce the amount of water that’s going on the ground,” he said. “That’s absolutely paramount.”