It’s going to cost a lot more for Richmond property owners to flush their toilets and wash their dishes next year.
Richmond city council approved a sewer utility rate hike of 33.2 per cent, which will increase an average single-family home’s bill by $186. The total average cost for a single-family homeowner for wastewater will be $749 in 2025.
Utility costs – water, sewer, flood protection and waste – are added onto property owners’ annual tax bill. The rates for all utilities were approved by city council last week – the rest of the city budget will be dealt with in December.
One cost driver for the high sewer fee increase is the ballooning construction cost of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, a Metro Vancouver project. Its cost increased by $2.8 billion, announced earlier this year, and its total price tag is now estimated at $3.9 billion.
Richmond residents are on the hook for $11.9 million every year for the next 15 years to service the debt for the North Shore wastewater treatment centre.
Townhouse owners will be paying about $125 more in sewer utilities with an average total cost of $502. Condo owners can expect an average sewer bill of $361 after an average increase of $90, according to a city staff report.
Water, flood protection, garbage fees also increase
City council approved increases to other utilities as well on Nov. 4.
Water utility costs will increase by 6.4 per cent, and this will translate to an increase of about $15 to $32 for residences.
The flood protection utility budget will increase by 9.8 per cent, and homeowners will pay on average $36 more, with the average bill coming to $305.
Garbage and recycling fees will go up 3.9 per cent, an increase of about $4 to $8 per household.
City council will decide the overall property tax rates, which includes operating and capital budgets, in December.
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