Come the new year utility users in Drumheller will be paying 5 per cent more for water and two per cent more for wastewater services, as the town continues down its path of making utilities self-sustainable.

During the special council meeting of December 16, Council approved the 2020 Utility Rate bylaw, committing to following the financing strategy which began many years ago to help make our water utility sustainable. 

“The utility system is a vital part of the town's infrastructure and it is imperative to put money aside each year to deal with the depreciation of this infrastructure and any expansion or requirements because of new environmental regulations. This financial plan is on track however there is still work to do, especially on the sewage system. We will be reviewing the cost model in 2020 to determine if we can lower the increases to water rates in future years as we move closer to a sustainable utility,” explained Darryl Drohomerski, CAO of the Town of Drumheller. 

The flat water rate for typical residential users goes from $14.74 to $15.48 and the price per cubic meter goes from $1.8775 to $1.9713. The flat rate charged for wastewater goes from $13.34 to $13.61 and the price per cubic meter goes from $2.1453 to $2.1881 per cubic meter, based on 80 per cent consumption. For a residential user that consumes 15 cubic meters of water, they would see an increase of $2.93 on their monthly bill.

“Administration works hard to ensure efficiencies are made whenever possible, however, it is vital to put money in reserve to make investments where needed to maintain the safety of our drinking water and keep this plan on track,” added Dave Brett, Director of Infrastructure Services.

The annual DVSS Seniors Dinner was another great success. The annual event treats local seniors to an afternoon of food and entertainment. The student body at DVSS puts in countless volunteer hours to make sure the

event goes smoothly. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and his elves were there to visit with the guests and he was able to learn what M’Liss Edwards and Carolyn McCullough wish for Christmas.