The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (CKPUC) has approved a rate hike for water and wastewater fees.
CKPUC said the rate and fee increases this year are necessary to cover the treatment and delivery costs of water and wastewater, as well as providing sufficient funding of 2023 operations, maintenance, lifecycle and debt financing costs.
The rate increase took effect January 1, 2023.
CK PUC General Manager Tim Sunderland said an average household of four will see an increase of 69 cents a month for water consumption. The monthly increase for wastewater is $1.03 per month.
The fees cover the transportation of the wastewater from homes to the Sewage Treatment Plant through the sanitary sewer pipe system and the treatment of sewage so that it meets environmental requirements before it's released into the environment.
"This infrastructure requires ongoing rehabilitation or replacement to maintain current standards," said CKPUC.
CKPUC adopted a multi-year financial plan in 2020 and the rates are following that plan.
The water/wastewater rate hike was approved at the CK PUC monthly meeting on Thursday.
