2026 Utility Fees and Rates Changes

As per bylaw #3-2023, the water usage rate will be increasing January 1st, 2026 to $14 per 1000 gallons.

In addition, the Town of Waldheim has submitted a request to the province to make additional rate and fee changes. The Local Government Committee (LGC) of the Saskatchewan Municipal Board (SMB) is currently reviewing Bylaw 2025-07 Water and Sewer Utility Rates and Fees Bylaw to ensure that 

• “rates are equitable to all users; and
• revenue generated by the utility is sufficient to offset all expenses including maintenance and debt retirement resulting from borrowing for capital utility projects.”

Approval is anticipated in January, which would make the new rates and fees effective as early as January 1st, 2026.

Background

Each year, the Town is required to review utility revenues and expenditures and provide a summary of this information to the province, and to the residents of Waldheim. The intent of this process is to “have a self-sustaining utility and create a reserve for maintenance and future capital projects” (Government of Saskatchewan website).

The review for 2024 (found here – 2024 Annual Waterworks Information) identified the following:

2024 Waterworks Analysis
Category	Description	Amount
Revenues	Income from Water Charges & Future Levy Charges	$406,321
Expenditures	All expenses related to operating the Waterworks including Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Loan Interest Payment	$538,456
Operating Shortfall		($132,135)
Revenues to Expenditures Ratio		0.75
2024 WTP Loan Principal Payment	Not included in above expenditures but is to be paid for with revenues from the Future Levy charge	$118,914
Total Operating and Debt Retirement Shortfall		($251,049)

All outstanding utility charges (water, sewer, levy) to have a Late Payment Charge of 2% / month.

Water Charges

• Water Service Charge
  • All properties connected to the Town Water Supply to have a monthly Service Charge starting at $17.50 (depending on the size of the water connection / water meter)
  • This charge is for the maintenance of the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and all water lines between the serviced property and the Town Water Treatment Plant. It therefore is independent of water usage
• Water Usage Charges
  • As above, will be $14 per 1,000 gallons as per bylaw #3-2023 
  • Metered Accounts
    • Water usage charges to be based on actual usage (no more minimum water usage billing)
    • Estimated Usage
      • If no meter reading is submitted for the billing period, the usage is to be estimated based on the last 12 months of water usage
        • This will reduce the size of ‘catch-up’ bills for heavier water users
        • Credit will be issued for those who use less water than estimated
  • Un-metered Accounts
    • Water usage continues to be estimated at 3,000 gallons usage per month
• Impact of changes on Total Water Fees

Monthly Usage	2025			2026
	Minimum Bill $39.00 for 3,000 gallons	Overage Rate $13.00 per 1000 gallons	2025 Total	Service Charge $17.50 (minimum based on normal 3/4″ Service Connection)	Usage Rate $14 per 1,000 gallons (2023)	2026 Total
1,000 gallons	$39.00	0	$39.00	$17.50	$14.00	$31.50
3,000 gallons	$39.00	0	$39.00	$17.50	$42.00	$59.50
5,000 gallons	$39.00	$26.00	$65.00	$17.50	$70.00	$87.50

Sewer Charges

• Sewer Service Charge
  • All properties connected to the Town sewer system to have a monthly sewer service charge of $15.00 per sewer connection
  • This charge is for the maintenance of the Town lagoon and all sewer lines between the serviced property and the Town Lagoon. It therefore is independent of sewer (water) usage
• Sewer Usage Charges
  • Metered Accounts
    • To be $5 per 1,000 gallons of WATER used (or estimated, if no water meter reading was submitted)
  • Un-Metered Accounts or those with wells
    • Usage to be billed at 3,000 gallons per month ($15) per dwelling unit
• Impact of changes on Total Sewer Fees

Monthly Water Usage	2025		2026
	Sewer Charge $30.00	2025 Total	Sewer Service Charge $15.00	Sewer Usage Rate $5 per 1000 gallons of water used	2026 Total
1,000 gallons	$30.00	$30.00	$15.00	$5.00	$20.00
3,000 gallons	$30.00	$30.00	$15.00	$15.00	$30.00
5,000 gallons	$30.00	$30.00	$15.00	$25.00	$40.00

Deposits

• Currently $150 for all accounts
• Changing to 2x estimated monthly bill for utility charges for new customers or those with a high-risk credit history 
• All accounts that are subject to a deposit will be credited back the full amount of the deposit following a two-year satisfactory account credit history (two-year history of utility bills paid within 30 days of issuing)

IMPORTANT

There will NOT be a bill at the end of December. However, as the January utility bill will include water and sewer usage in January 2026 AND any unbilled water usage overages from 2025, it is recommended to submit a water meter reading before the end of December. This will ensure that any 2025 water overages and sewer usage are billed at the 2025 rates.

Please submit a water meter reading before December 31st, 2025 by

• email – meter.readings@waldheim.ca
• phone – 306-945-2161 ext 6 (leave a message)