Bruce Taras will be paying 51 percent more for the water piped to his farm home outside Saskatoon next spring.
The grain farmer received a letter from Sask Water indicating the non-commercial rate for treated, potable water will increase to $7 per 1,000 gallons in April 2005 from the current $4.55.
“We understand prices have to go up but 51 percent over eight months is just not unfair, but uncalled for,” said Taras.
Greg Argue, vice-president of marketing and business development with Sask Water, confirmed water prices will rise 26 percent this August and 22 percent in April.
Rates will increase for 24 municipal, 30 industrial and 288 domestic customers with agreements that do not include a clause providing automatic rate increases.
He noted other Sask Water customers in Melfort, Wakaw and Humboldt have also seen regular increases and pay between $6 and $11 per 1,000 gallons.
Argue said the amounts reflect the actual costs of supplying water and conforming with new drinking water regulations introduced following E. coli outbreaks at Walkerton, Ont. Liability insurance paid by Sask Water has also doubled.
