When water consumption goes up in Maple Ridge this summer, so too will the cost.
But the price is expected to drop for most during the off seasons.
Owners of residences or businesses with metered water services will see changes to water and sewer rates for usage from Jan. 1, onward.
The City of Maple Ridge is updating its water and sewer fees following a comprehensive review designed to improve transparency, equity, and consistency, while better aligning with Metro Vancouver’s regional fee structure, explained Pardeep Purewal, the senior manager of corporate communications and public engagement.
These updates are intended to better reflect actual use of the water and sewer system and encourage water conservation, she said.
While individual bills may increase or decrease – depending on usage and account type – the overall changes are revenue neutral for the city, meaning the city is not collecting more revenue, Purewal elaborated.
Seasonal metered water rates will be implemented to reflect demand fluctuations throughout the year. Customers will be charged lower rates from January to April and October to December, then higher rates from May to September, when water use is typically highest.
This approach better reflects seasonal usage patterns and encourages water conservation during peak summer months, by reducing base fees and a greater emphasis on metered-water use, giving customers who conserve or use less water more control over their bills.
As for commercial users of the city’s bulk water fill stations, Purewal noted that service will continue to be charged based on usage, with these fees now clearly included in the updated water services schedule.
Residential users will continue to access bulk water at no charge for now, although the city will explore future options to address misuse and ensure fairness.
Amid the current changes, the city indicates residential sewer billing will see a small annual increase, consistent with past years.
But for the businesses or non-residential properties, sewer charges will now be based more directly on metered-water use with what city staff say is a new, simpler consumption-based sewer rate replaces a previous complex fee structure.
The sewer flat fee will no longer appear on the tax notice.
Residents and business customers can review the updated fee schedules and consider how water use choices may affect future bills by visiting: MapleRidge.ca/Utilities.