SaskWater is raising its rates for hundreds of rural customers in Saskatchewan effective next month.
The nine percent increase will raise the average household bill for potable water by $4.14 to $6.24 per month for farms that are directly connected to the utility’s delivery system.
The April increase affects customers who do not have scheduled annual rate adjustments as part of their agreements with the crown corporation. Customers who buy nonpotable water will see increases of 5.9 to nine percent.
Municipalities and pipeline groups that buy their water from SaskWater will pass along the increase at their discretion.
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The corporation last raised its rates May 1, 2007. The nine percent hike compares to a 26 percent increase in Regina, 27 percent in Moose Jaw and 30.5 percent in Saskatoon over the same time period. Those cities do not buy water from SaskWater.
Nancy Heppner, the minister responsible for SaskWater, said all utility providers face rising operating costs, aging infrastructure and evolving regulations.
“SaskWater is no different,” she said. “Saskatchewan communities recognize that safe, quality water is a very valuable resource and pricing must reflect the actual costs of providing that resource.”
The corporation spent $2.12 million on capital upgrades and infrastructure replacement last year.
It owns and operates seven water treatment plants, three waste water facilities, 37 pump stations and more than 800 kilometres of pipeline.
SaskWater services 50,000 people, or five percent of the population. The increase affects about three percent of the population.
