Back to SearchThe City of St. Catharines continues to ensure residents can rely on safe, affordable drinking water, balancing investments in infrastructure and a focus on affordability.
On Monday, Council approved 2022 rates for water-wastewater services. The new rates, representing a $53.24 increase over the year for the average ratepayer, come as the Niagara Region resumes a 5.15 per cent increase to its water-wastewater budget, resulting in increased costs charged to the City for both the purchase of water and treatment of wastewater. Roughly 64 per cent of the water-wastewater charges to users represent Niagara Region costs.
Despite this increase the City will move forward with critical investments in water infrastructure, ensuring residents can access safe drinking water at the tap and protecting the environment with reliable removal of wastewater.
“One of the City’s core responsibilities is providing residents safe, clean, affordable drinking water when they turn on the taps,” said Mayor Walter Sendzik. “This year’s water and wastewater budget supports financial sustainability and includes improvements that support operations and address impacts of climate change, while also ensuring we deliver high-quality services our community deserves and relies on.”
The 2022 Capital Budget includes $11 million of watermain and sanitary sewer capital works, of which $6.1 million is funded directly via water-wastewater rates in the 2022 Water-Wastewater Budget.
At the same time residents in St. Catharines will continue to enjoy some of the lowest water-wastewater rates in Niagara. Only Pelham charges less for water, with only a $1 annual difference between that municipality and St. Catharines.
“There are considerable challenges in terms of rising Regional costs and the continued importance of investing in infrastructure that not only ensures clean drinking water at the tap, but also mitigates environmental damage and costs associated with leaks or main breaks,” said Director of Financial Management Services and City Treasurer Kristine Douglas. “Our residents can be assured that not only will their water be delivered safely to their taps, but also that their rates remain comparatively low to their neighbours in the peninsula.”
Specifically, annual fixed rates for water will rise by $6, from $177 to $183, while water volumetric rates will rise by about $0.05 per cubic metre from $1.37 to $1.42 per cubic metre. On the wastewater side, annual fixed rates will increase by $18, from $135 to $153 and volumetric rates will rise by about $0.12 per cubic metre from roughly $2.03 to $2.15 per cubic metre.
New rates come into effect on March 1, 2022.
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