Water and sewer rates took centre stage at Trail city council earlier this month as chief administrator Colin McClure presented the proposed 2025 residential utility rates during the Nov. 12 governance meeting.
The proposal included a 10 per cent increase to water rates and a three per cent increase to sewer rates, prompting in-depth discussion about the city’s long-term infrastructure needs.
McClure outlined planned capital projects for 2025 and shared projections for capital reserves spanning 2024 to 2039.
These projections incorporated a reallocation of tax support from the sewer utility to the water utility.
“We need to get the water rate up so that it not only covers the operational costs but also provides funding to cover the capital cost of the utility,” McClure noted.
The subject was back on the table at Monday’s governance meeting (Nov. 25), and after extensive deliberation, council agreed to move forward with the proposed rate increases.
The approved changes will bring the average annual residential utility bill to $822, or $761 after discount.
This reflects a $44 increase in water rates from $433 to $477 in 2025 ($515 before discount) — amounting to an additional $3.67 per month after discount.
The sewer rate will rise from $276 to $284 ($307 before discount) — amounting to an $8 increase or $0.67 more per month.
McClure highlighted the aging water treatment plant, which turned 30 this year, noting that significant upgrades are expected within the next five to 10 years.
“The water rate currently is too low and still needs to increase significantly; 10 per cent per year for three more years after 2025 and then five per cent ongoing,” McClure told the Times.
“The goal is to have enough revenue in the water fund to cover the operational costs at the water treatment plant and other services — such as hydro for pump stations, water flushing, fire hydrants and overall water utility repairs and maintenance — with the remaining funds to cover the cost of capital infrastructure renewal that is required.”
He also pointed to a substantial $75 million capital upgrade for the regional sewer treatment plant.
While McClure said construction at the sewer treatment plant will lead to a significant one-time increase in requisitions, he explained to council that future annual increases should fall within the three per cent to five per cent range.
“The sewer funding is meeting the operational costs and will likely only require inflationary increases to the rates as the current and future funding appear to cover the operational costs as well as the capital improvements,” he explained, referring to municipal responsibilities.
“One has to remember that the city is only responsible for the transmission of the wastewater to the sewer treatment plant, with the RDKB (Regional District of Kootenay Boundary) being responsible for its operations and capital upgrades.”
The $75 million-plus sewage plant upgrade is going to have a significant effect to the regional tax requisition for service users in Rossland, Warfield, Trail and a small number of properties in Area B: likely doubling in 2025, McClure added.
“For an average assessed home, which was $383,000 in 2024 it will likely result in close to a $200 increase over the previous year just for the sewer service.”
(Clarification: The $23 garbage fee previously charged by the city to Trail residents has been eliminated from the 2025 utility bill. This adjustment follows the regional district’s assumption of garbage collection services last year.)
