Water and sewer rates are going up in Chatham-Kent.
The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (CK PUC) says the rates and fee increases are needed to cover the treatment and delivery costs of water and wastewater, and to provide sufficient funding for operations this year, along with maintenance, lifecycle and debt financing costs.
CK PUC General Manager Tim Sunderland said the increase works out to approximately $1.89 a month for the average household using around 20 cubic metres of water (73 cents for water/$1.16 for wasterwater).
Water consumption charges are increasing by one cent per cubic metre and the fixed rate is jumping by 53 cents a month. Sewer charges are going up by three cents per cubic metre for consumption and 56 cents a month for the fixed wastewater charge.
Sunderland said the rates are following a multi-year financial plan adopted in 2020.
The rate hike was approved at the CK PUC monthly meeting on Thursday.
