Seeking fair water rates

Photo: Castanet File Photo

The City of Kelowna is looking for public input in designing a new water rate structure.

The survey comes as the city gets ready to add more than 500 agriculture customers to the city's water utility once Phase 1 of the Integrated Water Supply plan is complete in 2020.

To accommodate the new users, a review of agriculture irrigation rates is necessary to ensure a "fair structure," that encourages conservation while supporting farmers.

“This survey is the first step in the public engagement process and provides an opportunity for current, future and even potential customers of the city to weigh in on the discussion about water service,” says utility services manager Kevin Van Vliet.

“Ensuring an adequate, affordable supply of water for agriculture is a challenge that needs the support of the entire community.”

Rate designs can range from pay-per-use, as the city’s current agricultural class customers do, to the South Okanagan Mission Irrigation District model, which charges a fixed fee per acre of land.

Or, it could combine a fixed component with a variable component based on water use, such as the system used for City of Kelowna residential and commercial customer classes, or using increasing prices for increased use, as in Kelowna and in Southeast Kelowna Irrigation District. 

The survey runs until Dec. 10.