Quinte West Council will receive a Water and Wastewater Rate Study update as well as review proposed changes to the city’s water and wastewater fees at its council meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
Provincial legislation requires the city to maintain a financially viable plan for generating the revenue it needs to safely and efficiently deliver water and sewer services and meet future demand.
The City of Quinte West operates and maintains approximately 214 kilometres of watermains and 136 kilometres of municipal sewer lines serving approximately 28,000 residents.
Water and wastewater fees provide the majority of revenue that pays for the municipality’s water and wastewater system.
The city’s water and wastewater rates were last approved by council in 2017.
Since then, the city has undertaken the 2021 Water and Wastewater Master Plan, the 2022 Asset Management Plan, and the 2024 Development Charge Background Study that all have impacts on the delivery of municipal water and sewer services in Quinte West.
The city’s 2021 Water and Wastewater Master Plans have identified several growth and capacity requirements for the city’s water and wastewater system that are needed to ensure the system can keep up with the community’s anticipated growth over the next 10 years.
The Water and Wastewater Rate Study outlines three service level options for delivering the city’s water and wastewater services and ensuring that the city can pay for providing the services at the chosen delivery level.
- Option 1 – Maintain current service level: This option supports the city’s water system working as effectively as possible to meet current and anticipated future demand, and reduces the risk of watermain breaks and service disruptions. This option would require an increase to the average monthly water bill of $8.30 or 5.2% per year over the next 10 years.
- Option 2 – Reduce current service level: This option maintains some ability to meet anticipated future demand levels and limits the risk of service disruptions, but makes some sacrifices including delaying replacing pipes until after their expected useful life. This option would require an increase of an average monthly water bill of $7.10 or 4.6% per year over the next 10 years.
- Option 3 – Keep rates low, risk service delivery: This option limits system maintenance work, delays pipeline replacement until well beyond their useful life, and risks increased water loss and more frequent service disruptions. This option would require an increase of an average monthly water bill of $5.40 or 3.7% per year over the next 10 years.
A public meeting on the issue will be held during council’s September 4 meeting.
Quinte West residents who wish to provide comments or address council about the Water and Wastewater Rate Study can attend the public meeting in person or virtually on Sept. 4 and speak during the public input period.
Public input can also be submitted in writing to clerk@quintewest.ca for distribution as correspondence to council.
Council will have the opportunity to make a decision on water and wastewater rates at its September 18 meeting.
Learn more about the city’s water and wastewater system and current rates at quintewest.ca/water.
