HIgher Water Fees Get Initial Support

Written by Peter McIntyre Wednesday, 19 January 2011 15:25107.5 KISSFM

The average Greater Vernon home will end up paying an extra 20.6 percent for water this year, under proposed new fees.  Greater Vernon Advisory Committee members worked out the fee schedule today in a special meeting.  NORD's Engineering GM Arnold Badke says, "For a person using 350 cubic metres (CM) a year (a cubic meter is 1,000 liters). Last year, he would have paid 480-dollars, this year he'll pay $579."  The rates include a base fee of $66.20 per quarter, plus block rates that will vary between 60 cents and $1.10 per cubic metre, depending on the amount used. 0-10: 60 cents...20-40: 75 cents...40-80: 90 cents....over 80 cm: $1.10  Badke says last year, the first 20 CM were included in the base rate, and anything over that was 92 cents a CM. The new rates still need approval from the regional board which will deal with the issue next month