Phase two of Tranquille Road construction has led to a seven per cent sewer rate increase (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

SEWER RATE INCREASE

Major construction project on Tranquille Road in the spring resulting in sewer rate increase

Dec 4, 2019 | 12:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — City council has tentatively approved a seven per cent increase in sewer rates. It will mean an extra $29 for the average household.

In the previous two years, increases have been strictly to cover costs related to biosolid management. This year, however, the tax hike will cover the cost of a major construction project on Tranquille Road that begins in the spring. Infrastructure upgrades between 12th Street and Ridgeview Terrace are required.

“It’s because of the Tranquille phase three project — phase two and phase three,” said city utility services manager Greg Wightman. “We’ve got a major sewer projects there that we need to fund — multiple-million-dollar projects and we’re trying to do that without borrowing.”

The city says it’s trying to be proactive before the aging infrastructure fails. The pipes below Tranquille Road funnel all of the North Shore’s sewage to the wastewater treatment plant. It represents the only utility increase to taxpayers this year.

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“Across all the utilities — water, solid waste and sewer — we’re looking at a $29 per average home increase,” noted Wightman. “That’s just sewer this year. There’s no increase in water and no increase in solid waste.”

The seven per cent increase is down following back-to-back 15 per cent rate hikes. Those increases went towards biosolid management, which Wightman says has been expensive to deal with. He says the city is still working through long-term options to deal with its biosolids.

“We’ve reviewed all the options from around the world. One of the challenges we’re having right now is OMRR, which is the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation, the provincial regulation that controls biosolids. It’s still under review,” said Wightman. “Really, until we have some certainty on where that regulation may land, we don’t want to propose any large-scale projects that could be impacted by it.”

Wightman says another challenge has been with its biosolids project in Turtle Valley. Protestors blocked Arrow trucks until last month, but the project remains on hold.

The seven per cent hike to sewer still needs to gain final approval from council next week.