Water rates ready to climb

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 02, 2010 7:00 PM

The cost of water could skyrocket in Greater Vernon. The North Okanagan Regional District board will consider a recommendation today for an across-the-board water rate hike of nine per cent. “There are a lot more requirements from the Interior Health Authority for operating systems and testing,” said Al Cotsworth, utility manager. The other reason for the proposed hike is ongoing upgrades to the system, including the Duteau Creek treatment plant, which is under construction. “There’s all of the labour and electricity (with the plant) we haven’t had to spend before,” said Cotsworth.Twenty cubic metres of consumption is included in the quarterly base fee at a rate of 92 cents per cubic metre. A new rate specifically for summer (July to September) is also being proposed. It would go from 92 cents per cubic metre to $1.10. “The summer season is what stresses our existing infrastructure the most,” said Cotsworth, adding that the goal of the higher rate is to conserve water.

One Greater Vernon politician believes the increases will place financial hardship on residents and businesses. “I don’t think customers will like it,” said director Gyula Kiss. “It’s a total abandonment of what was promised with the master water plan.” Cotsworth believes customers can control the financial impact on themselves. “People have the opportunity to reduce what they pay by using less water,” he said. However, Kiss insists such a strategy could backfire. “Turn the taps off and there’s not enough income coming in and that affects water rates,” he said.

Support for the nine per cent tax increase comes from Wayne Lippert, Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chairman. “The master water plan calls for rates to gradually increase every year to help maintain and operate the new treatment plant,” he said. But Lippert says the regional district opted to take money out of reserves in 2006. “That put us off step and this (nine per cent) is putting us back in line and paying for the facility,” he said.