The budgets were made available to the public in advance of the formal tabling at the November 4th Board of Control meeting. The budget recommendation is a nine per cent increase to wastewater and treatment rates and an eight per cent increase to water rates. “At the proposed rates the typical home will see an annual cost of $ 317 for water, an increase of $24 over last year. Wastewater services, including both sanitary and storm sewers, will increase $38 per year, with the average home incurring an annual cost of $460.”

The city lists a number of factors that were taken into account in this year’s water budget. The first is an increase in the cost of water purchased from both the Lake Huron and Elgin Area Water Supply Systems, at a rate of seven per cent and six percent respectively. In addition, a significant amount of funds have been dedicated to increasing our water distribution maintenance system, as part of the phased-in 20 year plan. Funds have been identified to align with stimulus projects, initiated by funding from both federal and provincial programs.

“We realize the difficulties homeowners face in the current economy but must continue to address the infrastructure gap and forge ahead with capital programs which maintain jobs in the construction sector and support senior government stimulus measures,” says Pat McNally, General Manager of Environmental and Engineering Services and City Engineer.

One fact that we can all be proud of is average household usage in London has declined 18 per cent from 2001 to 2008, this has contributed to the relatively low annual household increase for both sewer and water in previous years.

Official tabling of the city’s 2010 Water and Wastewater budgets will take place at Board of Control November 4. Board of Control will then hold a public participation meeting on November 10, 2009 commencing at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers to hear delegations from the public regarding the proposed budgets.

Anyone interested in participating in this meeting should provide written submissions to be included on the agenda by no later than 4:30 p.m. on November 6,2009, either delivered or mailed to the City Clerk’s Office. Click on the link above for more info.