Rural residents who buy their water through SaskWater will see rate increases of more than 20 percent over the next three years.
The crown corporation announced yesterday that rates would begin to go up in April.
The increases apply to all customers who do not have scheduled annual rate changes in their agreements.
This includes 23 communities, five rural municipalities, 80 rural pipeline groups, 10 industrial customers and 189 commercial and end user connections. About 26,000 people are affected.
Dustin Duncan, minister responsible for SaskWater, said the utility is faced with rising operating costs, aging infrastructure and changing regulations.
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“Safe, reliable quality water is valuable to Saskatchewan communities and the rates must reflect the costs of providing that resource and provide for infrastructure renewals and expansion,” he said in a news release.
Rates are going up by seven or nine percent per year for potable drinking water for total increases of 21 or 27 percent. The average increase will be $4.26 per month. However, SaskWater noted that it provides the water to municipalities and pipeline groups, which in turn decide how to pass on the increases.
Customers of non-potable water, mainly for industrial and commercial use, will see increases of three to 24 percent over three years.
