Saanich homeowners can expect to pay about $50 more this year for using water and sewer services.
The average Saanich home is projected to use 341.72 cubic metres of water this year. That home will pay $421 in 2012, $24 more than last year. The six per cent jump is broken down into increases in the bulk water cost ($4.50), Saanich’s operating costs ($2.3) and the municipal infrastructure replacement costs ($17.20).
“(The infrastructure replacement cost) is the largest component of that because council has a plan to reach sustainable levels of infrastructure replacement by 2019 at the latest,” said Paul Murray, the municipality’s director of finance.
The average annual sewer charge will also rise this year, by $23, to $292.
This 8.6 per cent jump over 2011 includes increases to the CRD operating costs ($5), Saanich’s operating costs ($3) and the infrastructure replacement costs ($3).
Both costs are based on consumption, however, so residents are reminded that “the more you use, the more you pay,” Murray said.
Council is expected to approve the rate increases at Monday night’s council meeting.
kslavin@saanichnews.com
