Water & Sewer
NEW REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER SYSTEM INSTALLATION IN GREENSTREET
The new reverse osmosis water system will be installed on May 4, 2022. The predicted schedule for the installation will involve the following:
– 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on May 4, 2022 the construction crew will be installing the new water system and the water to the residents will be off during this time.
– A precautionary boil water advisory order will be imposed for a minimum of 24 hours after the water has been shut off and will remain in effect until Water Security Agency
gives authorization to remove the precautionary boil water advisory order. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Michael Glavin, Operations Manager at
306-830-6618
$25.00 per household for water, and $25.00 per household for sewer. Council increased the water rates in 2014 to $30.00/month per household for water, and $30.00/month per household for sewer. Council passed a Bylaw on March 22, 2017 that came into effect for the July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 billing cycle to increase the monthly charge from $60.00/month to $70.00/month. The new rates included a $25.00/month per household for water, $25.00/month per household for sewer, $10.00/month for a water infrastructure charge and $10.00/month for a sewer infrastructure charge. The Municipality decided the rates needed to be increased because the capital and maintenance costs have increased significantly. On September 1, 2020, the rates were $32.50/month per household for water, $32.50/month per household for sewer, $10.00/month for a water infrastructure charge and $10.00/month for a sewer infrastructure charge. The total fees per household per month were $85.00. On April 1, 2021, council increased the totally monthly charge again to $88.00/month. Included in the $88.00/month is $34.00/month for water, $34.00/month for sewer, $10/month for water infrastructure and $10/month for sewer infrastructure.
Council recognizes that revenues generated from the water and sewer rates do not cover the costs of the maintenance and infrastructure to the systems located within the Hamlet of Greenstreet and Hillmond. The shortfall is absorbed by the taxes received within the municipality.
By planning the waterworks rate increases ahead of time, the residents and businesses will be able to prepare for and adjust to the increases. Bylaws will be passed each year for the water rate changes. The Municipality is planning on a yearly increase over the next three years of $3.00 annually.
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The $25.00 flat water and sewer rates that were established on January 1, 2006 were chosen as being acceptable rates for residents and businesses at that time. The flat rates do not generate enough waterworks revenues to cover the waterworks operating and capital costs. In 2020, the Greenstreet rates cover about 45% of the waterworks operating and capital costs, with 55% of the operating and capital costs being covered by funding from the general revenue fund. In 2020, the Hillmond rates cover about 38% of the waterworks operating and capital costs, with 64% of the operating and capital costs being covered by funding from the general revenue fund.
Waterworks operating costs, or expenditures, include contractor costs, power, telephone, fuel, heat, insurance, chemicals, repairs, maintenance and supplies. Also, the flat water and sewer rates do not include an infrastructure charge. Some municipalities use an infrastructure charge to collect revenue that is put into reserves so that they are able to address waterworks infrastructure problems that arise and replace aging waterworks as required.
Beginning July 1, 2017, a $10.00 monthly charge for future water infrastructure as well as a $10.00 monthly charge for future sewer infrastructure was implemented.
In 2021, the Municipality is planning on installing water meters at all the residences and businesses in Greenstreet and Hillmond. Once these meters are installed, the below rates will be considered for the average water user. The municipality will implement a water usage rate schedule when the water usage can be measured. This change will be a fair way of charging for water usage and may reduce the water being wasted because the user will have to pay for what is actually used not just a basic monthly fee.
Below provides the planned rate increases for this year and beyond for the average user:
| Date | Water Monthly Flat Rate | Monthly Sewer Flat Rate | Water Infrastructure Monthly Charge | Sewer Infrastructure Monthly Charge |
| January 1, 2020 | $32.50 | $32.50 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| January 1, 2021 | $34.00 | $34.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| January 1, 2022 | $35.50 | $35.50 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| January 1, 2023 | $37.00 | $37.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| January 1, 2024 | $38.50 | $38.50 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
WATERWORKS CAPITAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
On June 14, 2017, Council passed a resolution regarding the implementation of a capital investment strategy.
The objective of the waterworks capital investment strategy is to address anticipated waterworks infrastructure maintenance, the immediate drinking water infrastructure problems and future infrastructure replacements in a timely fashion so as to ensure the municipal waterworks provides safe drinking water to residents and businesses. The strategy uses the 2015 waterworks system assessment that was required by Saskatchewan Environment for infrastructure planning.
To cover the costs of future waterworks infrastructure maintenance and replacements, Council will likely need to undertake in the future a combination of increasing water rates to build the waterworks reserves, and attempt to cover the waterworks operating costs, and long-term borrowing.
The Capital investment strategy will ensure that safe drinking water can be provided to the residents and businesses in the community presently and in the future.
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Capital plans have been established to address the waterworks infrastructure deficiencies and replacements as identified and prioritized in the 2015 waterworks assessment to ensure safe drinking water. The current waterworks capital plans and planned sources of funding are as follows:
| Project | Planned year of Completion | 2020 Cost | Future Cost* (5 Years) |
Source of Funding |
| Expand the lagoon at the Greenstreet location | unknown | $600,000 | $662,448 | Reserves, Gas Tax Funding, Municipal Taxes |
| Install Water Meters at Greenstreet and Hillmond | 2021 | $ 70,000 | $77,286 | Municipal Taxes |
| Install Reverse Osmosis at Greenstreet | unknown | $500,000 | $510,000 |
Municipal Taxes, Reserves, Grant
|
| Replace sewer line at Hillmond | unknown | $150,000 | $165,512 | Municipal Taxes |
For future waterworks capital plans, projects will be prioritized based on what is needed to ensure safe drinking water.
ANNUAL FINANCIAL OVERVIEW (of the previous calendar year)
Total 2020 waterworks revenues (R) $ 66,273.60
Total 2020 waterworks expenditures (E) $ 154,954.57
Total debt payments on waterworks infrastructure loans (D)- zero (no waterworks debt)
Comparison of waterworks revenues to expenditures plus debt payments, expressed as a ratio
– ($ 66,273.60) / ($154,954.57) + ($0) = .38
For 2020, waterworks revenue covered 38% of the waterworks expenditures.
Amount of 2020 waterworks revenue transferred out of the utility, specifying where the revenues were transferred – Zero
Amount of 2019 supplementary funding required to cover the expenditures, specifying the source of the supplementary funding – $88,680.97 from the general revenue fund.
RESERVES
Reserves available for waterworks capital infrastructure as of December 31, 2020: Greenstreet = $31,060.67
Hillmond = $7,537.25
Water/Sewer General Reserve = $679,783.13
ATTACHMENTS
Attached is the 2015 waterworks system assessment, as required under section 35 of The Water Regulations, 2002.
HILLMOND
ANNUAL INFORMATION PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH NEWSPAPERS, DIRECT MAILOUTS OR WEBSITES BY SEPTEMBER 1 OF EACH YEAR (beginning 2006)
The following is information on the Rural Municipality of Britannia No. 502 waterworks, as required under The Municipalities Regulations.
2020 Waterworks Financial Overview Hillmond:
- Total waterworks Revenue (R) – $21,499.60
- Total waterworks expenditures (E) – $56,280.40
- Total debt payments on waterworks infrastructure loans (D) – 0
Comparison of waterworks revenues to expenditures plus debt payments, expressed as a ratio -$21,499.60 / $56,280.40 + ($0) = .38
For 2020, waterworks revenues covered 38% of the waterworks expenditures
The following additional information is available at the municipal office on the waterworks:
- The Bylaw 24-2020, A Bylaw of the Rural Municipality of Britannia No. 502 to fix the Rates to be charged for Water and Sewer Service.
- 2020 financial overview of waterworks
- Waterworks reserves
- A copy of the 2008 waterworks assessment
GREENSTREET
ANNUAL INFORMATION PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH NEWSPAPERS, DIRECT MAILOUTS OR WEBSITES BY SEPTEMBER 1 OF EACH YEAR (beginning 2006)
The following is information on the Rural Municipality of Britannia No. 502 waterworks, as required under The Municipalities Regulations.
2020 Waterworks Financial Overview Greenstreet:
- Total waterworks Revenue (R) – $44,774.00
- Total waterworks expenditures (E) – $98,674.17
- Total debt payments on waterworks infrastructure loans (D) – 0
Comparison of waterworks revenues to expenditures plus debt payments, expressed as a ratio – $44,774.00 / $98,674.17 + ($0) = .45
For 2020, waterworks revenues covered 45% of the waterworks expenditure.
The following additional information is available at the municipal office on the waterworks:
- The Bylaw 24-2020, A Bylaw of the Rural Municipality of Britannia No. 502 to fix the Rates to be charged for Water and Sewer Service.
- 2020 financial overview of waterworks
- Waterworks reserves