Durham Regional Council has approved the 2024 water supply and sanitary sewer user rates, with a combined increase of 4.9 per cent, plus 2.5 per cent for impacts of Ontario Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, Ontario Bill 134, Affordable Homes and Goods Jobs Act, 2023 and related provincial legislation.
The combined 7.4 per cent increase results in an estimated increase of $79.68 annually for an average residential customer. The approved user rates will take effect on January 1, 2024. said a region statement after the approval late last year.
Continued investment in the aging municipal water system is required to protect public health and the water environment to meet obligations under the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Ontario Water Resource Act, it said.
In addition to ongoing maintenance and operation of the water supply and sanitary sewerage systems, Durham Region has several major projects planned for 2024 that support provincial housing targets, local municipal housing pledges and align with the region’s asset management strategy including:
- Planning, detailed design and construction of 24 kilometres of watermain and sanitary sewer projects.
- Multi-year expansion and upgrades to the Ajax Water Supply Plant and the Whitby Water Supply Plant.
- Expansion of the Newcastle Water Pollution Control Plant.
- Replacement and rehabilitation work at Port Darlington (Clarington), Lake Simcoe (Brock) and Duffin Creek (Pickering) Water Pollution Control Plants.
- Replacement and rehabilitation work at the Beaverton and Bowmanville Water Supply Plants.
- Continuing to retrofit existing water meters with radio frequency remote reading devices to minimize manual meter readings.
“Durham Region continues to advocate for funding from other levels of government for shortfalls in development charge funding resulting from recent legislation as well as for the unplanned and accelerated infrastructure needs to meet provincial housing targets,” said the statement.
The Region’s water and sanitary sewer user rates are reviewed on an annual basis, with recommendations made to Regional Council in December.
“No other service has a greater impact on our everyday life than safe drinking water and the protection of our water environment. Continuing to invest in these effective and efficient Regional services is one of the many ways that we deliver and maintain safe, reliable and financially sustainable services for our residents and growing community,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer.