Photo: The Canadian Press

Rates for water and sewer will be going up next year in the Town of Oliver, largely due to major projects in the township.

Single-family homes will be paying $248.10 next year in sewer taxes, which is up from $235.90 last year, a 5.16 per cent increase.

That's on top of a new, heightened rate for the sewer parcel tax, which will sit at $101.15 next year, compared to $96.20 this year – also a 5.16 per cent jump.

Water will be going up a little more this year, with a 3.41 per cent hike in the operational fees, but the town will also be adding incremental increases over and above operational fees in the coming five years.

In 2017 and 2018, that will be a three per cent increase, followed by a two per cent increase each year from 2019 to 2021.

The increase is in order to address imminent repairs that will be required on the irrigation canal, largely stemming from a rock fall that caused significant damage to underground pipes that are part of the irrigation canal this January.

Mayor Ron Hovanes said a provincial fund of $525,000 in March helped the town to conduct temporary repairs, but the town needs more.

"That temporary fix is going to have to get us through this summer as well," Hovanes said, adding that an engineering company will soon be providing an estimate on the cost of a permanent fix.

On top of the repairs to the canal, Hovanes said there are additional operating costs for water and sewer, including operating a new pump for the canal, de-sludging an area lagoon and increased staff pay.