Drumheller's water treatment reserve fund benefits from the Town's increase in water rates for 2015.
Drumheller Town Council has approved new water and sewer rates for its customers in 2015 during the regular meeting of Council on Monday, December 22.
“2014 was $1.47, now it’s going up to $1.54 - that’s per cubic metre. A cubic metre is 1,000 litres,” said Mayor Terry Yemen of Drumheller’s new water rate.
The average Drumheller homeowner should only see a few dollars increase per month on their total utility bill.
“It’s not a big hit, that’s for sure,” said Mayor Terry Yemen.
“It’s the cost of doing business. Wages go up, the chemicals go up, the electricity, the gas goes up, it’s just a cost of doing business. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality of it.”
Yemen said the five per cent increase will allow the Town to shore up its water reserve fund for a rainy day - “Future projects will deal with fresh water. It’s a self-funded utility, so any money we make over and above goes into that specific reserve.”
The Mayor said having a reserved fund allows the Town to react to any repair issues that may come up at the water treatment plant, as well as allow the Town to be prepared to meet any new provincial government water treatment regulations that may come down the pipe.
He notes that shoring up the water reserve fund is also just smart business planning for the Town of Drumheller.
Cleaning the Town’s water reservoirs will eat up about $25,000 of that reserve fund. The Mayor said the work planned for 2015 will see the Town’s reservoirs drained, the sludge dredged out of the bottom, and the algae and plant life removed.
The Town expects these measures will help improve the water after odour and taste problems, all-too frequently reported in 2014.
The Town of Drumheller has provided a rates cost comparison between Drumheller and similar municipalities.
Drumheller’s rates seem to be in the middle average range on the comparison,with Olds at the high end and Brooks the lowest.
Drumheller’s sewer rates increase from $1.94 to $1.98 per cubic metre for 2015.
