Durham Regional Council has approved the 2022 water supply and sanitary sewer user rates, with a combined increase of 1.8 per cent, it was announced yesterday.
This is an estimated annual increase of $19.52 per year for the average Durham Region household, said a municipal statement.
In addition to ongoing maintenance and operation of the water supply and sanitary sewerage systems, Durham Region has several major capital projects planned for 2022 including:
- Replacement of 20 kilometres of watermain and sanitary sewer pipe.
- System expansions including Phase 1 work for the expansion of the Whitby Water Supply Plant in the Town of Whitby and the associated Feedermain on Victoria St. in the Town of Whitby.
- Preliminary and detailed design of filter rehabilitation at the Oshawa Water Supply Plant.
- Preliminary and detailed design for the replacement of the Water Street Sanitary Sewage Pumping Station and the new Port Perry Water Storage Facility in the Township of Scugog.
- Liberty Street Zone 1 Reservoir, Zone 2 Water Pumping Station in the Municipality of Clarington (Bowmanville).
- New Cannington well and pumphouse in the Township of Brock.
- Implementation of the Phosphorous Optimization Implementation Plan and Outfall modifications and the replacement of Reactors 1 and 2 at the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in the City of Pickering.
- Watermain and sanitary sewer work on Planks Lane and Cemetery Road in the Township of Uxbridge
- Initiating a three-year project starting in 2022 to retrofit existing water meters with radio frequency remote reading devices to minimize manual meter readings – a significant customer service enhancement that builds on the improvements achieved through the implementation of the MyDurhamWater project.
These approved user rates cover net costs related to system operation and capital projects. The approved user rates will take effect on January 1, 2022.
Continued investment in an aging municipal water system is required to protect this important resource, and to meet obligations under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The region’s water and sanitary sewer user rates are reviewed on an annual basis, with recommendations made to Regional Council in December. For more information on Durham Region’s water and sanitary sewer user rate increases and the 2022 consolidated water supply and sanitary sewerage business plans and budgets, visit durham.ca/Budget. Information about Durham Region’s water and sanitary sewer system is available at durham.ca/WaterAndSewer.
“Investing in our municipal water and sanitary sewer systems is an important investment that impacts our everyday life. Providing clean drinking water to Durham residents and protecting our water environment is one of the many ways that we deliver and maintain safe, reliable and financially sustainable services for our residents,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and CEO, Region of Durham.