Water and sewer services in Kamloops will cost you a little bit more over the next five years.

The City of Kamloops will be increasing water rates by one per cent in 2023 with sewer rates going up 2.5 per cent, translating into a combined increase of $16 on average for a Kamloops homeowner.

Utility Services Manager Greg Wightman says Kamloops has Canada’s most complex water distribution system owing to the topography and the way the city has grown through sprawl.

“The past two years have seen unprecedented cost increases as result of pandemic-related issues,” Wightman said. “Drastic price increases have depleted the utility’s strong financial reserves despite staff’s best efforts to minimize the impact.”

He also says the cost of materials and services have increased at “an exponential rate” referring to a 200 per cent increase in the price of PVC pipes.

It is a similar story for sewer services, which Wightman says has been “historically underfunded” though he told City Council Tuesday that recent “significant” rate increases have brought the utility to a financially sustainable state.

“The financial stability of the sewer utility has resulted in recommendations for modest, yet consistent rate increases that will support the key functions of the utility,” he added.

“The cost of the materials and supplies required to provide wastewater collection and treatment have also increased drastically during the pandemic. One example is the cost of the chemicals used in wastewater treatment which have increased nearly 40 per cent in the past year.”

Wightman also noted a number of sewer projects being done this year including on Lorne Street, Fourth Avenue and McQueen Drive, at the Kamloops Sewage Treatment Centre, and in Riverside Park.

He also highlighted a number of water-related projects on the books like a new reservoir in Valleyview, control upgrades to the City’s water intake, and the replacement of water mains on Highland Drive, Lorne Street, Fleetwood Avenue, and Bebek Road.

Moving forward, Wightman is also recommending a two per cent increase in Kamloops water rates along with a 2.5 per cent increase in sewer rates each year from 2024 until 2027.

That will lead to an additional $20 on average for homeowners in 2024 and 2025 and $21 in 2026 and $2027.

Users of the Noble Creek Irrigation System are expected to see a 15 per cent increase in their rates next year – roughly $275 per hectare of land – “to support continued reduction of the operating deficit and support capital needs.”

A final decision on the water and sewer rate increases is expected to be made at next week’s City Council meeting on Sept. 27.