The city's waterworks and sewer rates have gotten a little thicker to keep up with rising operation costs and old infrastructure.
Every year, the city costs more to run. In this case, council approved a 5.5 per cent increase for Burnaby's 2014 sanitary sewer utility rate, at its Nov. 18 meeting. Council also increased its waterworks utility rate by 5.5 per cent for 2014.
"The budget reflects a general utility rate increase of 5.5 per cent to ensure that the sanitary sewer utility continues to be self-supporting," said Denise Jorgenson, director of finance, in her report to council. "The expenditure budget increases are necessary to cover sewer maintenance requirements, higher costs of aging infrastructure replacement, and the cost of sewage and storm water treatment services provided by Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District."
Metro Vancouver treats about one billion litres of wastewater per day at five treatment plants. Its 2014 projected cost was set to increase by 3.9 per cent, to more than $18 million.
The 5.5 per cent increase is a little less than past year sewer rate changes, ranging from six to nine per cent increases each year from 2009 to 2013.
The increase for waterworks is also less than usual. From 2009 to 2013, rate changes fluctuated between 12 per cent to six per cent increases each year.
If payment is made within 30 days of the billing date, metered users can get a five per cent discount. The utility fees, collected separately from property taxes, are due on March 15 every year.
For a single-family dwelling the sewer bill will increase by $26.73 to $512.75 (if payment is made by the due date.) If payment is made after, it will not include the discount five per cent rate. Residential units in multi-family dwellings will share the fee, which will increase by $14.48, if payment is made before March 15.
For waterworks, a single-family home bill will increase by $28.40 to $544.87 if payment is made before the due date.
For more information on the city's utility rates, visit www.burnaby.ca.
