The Regional District of Nanaimo is amending its water services charges to reflect the escalating costs involved in water connections and water bill adjustments fees.
An amendment bylaw was introduced and read three times that would see property owners requiring water connections to play about $200 more. Hooking up a new home to community water system will increase to $780 from $580.
Staff indicated the charges will be applied towards recovery of the cost of labour, equipment, and materials to install water meter, protective road box and turn on the water at a property that has not been connected to the RDN community water service.
As well, arranging a water bill reduction for a property owner who has experienced a water leak will be paying more as the fee increases to $50 from $20. The old rate, RDN staf indicated does not cover the value of the time required to complete these task.
As for reconnection fees ($100) and hydrant use fees, no changes have been proposed.
Staff indicated that if fees and charges are not increaseds, the costs will continue to be subsidized by the general revenue collected from the entire region.
