Woolwich residents will pay another $50 per year for water/sewer usage

That Flushing

SOUND IS CARRYING away more than just what you’d expect – it’s taking more of your cash with it.

Woolwich residents on municipal services will pay $50 more this year for water and sewer services under a budget approved this week by council.

Water rates are set to rise 3.7 per cent, to $1.89 per cubic metre from $1.82 last year. For the average customer using 2.4 cubic metres per year, that will amount to an additional $14.28.

On the wastewater side, rates will climb 6.06 per cent, to $3.18 per cubic metre from $3.

Bulk water rates from the region account for 70 per cent of Woolwich’s costs, while the region’s portion accounts for 74 per cent of the wastewater budget.

Whereas the township’s increases are typically lower than the bulk-rate increases imposed by the Region of Waterloo, which provides both water and sewage treatment, that’s not the case this year. A bid to contract out more water services and the repayment of a debenture for work done as part of the Industrial Drive, Elmira reconstruction project are part of this year’s increases, director of finance Richard Petherick told councillors meeting January 23.

Infrastructure projects have chipped away at the township’s reserve fund for such work, prompting a discussion about possible service rate increases.

“Since we ran out of funds in the reserve in 2022 are we confident we’re building enough

“We did this during the COVID pandemic. Economic uncertainty was everywhere. Just getting together, both as a campaign team and with prospective donors, was a challenge. And yet our team and community overcame this by being creative and industrious.

The residents of Wellesley Township never wavered in understanding the importance of what we were building,” Martin said.

There were several key factors and people that played a part in the fundraising, Martin added.

“First the province of Ontario’s grant at $16.1 million. From the beginning, our MPP Mike Harris was a strong supporter of our project and worked on behalf of the township to secure this money. Without his efforts and subsequent funding the project we were building today wouldn’t be possible. Second, the supportive township councils, starting with the council several years ago that had the good foresight to purchase the land where the complex resides and the most recent council which voted to move forward with the project,” he explained.

The canvassers also played a big role, Martin said.

“Soliciting for money can be quite uncomfortable, and yet our canvassers took on the task with energy and enthusiasm. I applaud them and give them great credit for the success of our campaign.” reserves going forward for the next project in the project after that?” asked Coun. Eric Schwindt.

While the fundraising portion is over, the Something for Everyone campaign will continue to be active.

“We will share milestone moments of the construction as well as posting new and interesting details about the complex as we get closer to opening day. I’m very proud of what our team and community have accomplished. I feel lucky to have had the chance to lead and be involved with such a special group of people and to live in such a kind and generous community such as ours,” Martin said.

Petherick noted the last full rate review was done in 2005, with subsequent councils avoiding increases given that rate was and is the highest in the region. The fee starts at $26 bimonthly, depending on the size of the connection.

To date, Woolwich has done “a very good job of keeping up with their infrastructure,” said Petherick, noting a review may be in order at this point.

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