Water bills in Petrolia are on the way up.

In it’s first meeting, town councillors attended a mandatory public meeting for water and sewer rate increase and just over an hour later passed on a four per cent increase on both water and sewer charges.

Rick Charlebois, Petrolia’s CAO, said rising inflation – which has been around seven per cent for the last three months – is driving up costs. Charlebois didn’t give concrete examples of what projects would require more cash since the water and sewer budgets won’t be available for councillors to read and approve until January.

Charlebois also pointed to increasing capital costs as an issue. 

The town will be rebuilding the water intake at the Bright’s Grove Water Treatment facility in the next year. The project will cost about $16.2 million. The federal and provincial government have contributed under $12 million to the project, leaving Petrolia to find about $4.2 million according to the CAO. 

He added there needs to be $5.9 million in capital projects above and beyond the water intake in the next 10 years. “We need money to pay for that.” Under provincial regulations, water and sewer operations must pay for themselves out of user rates, however in the past, the town has secured loans to cover large capital projects, including for the recently completed sewage treatment plant.

Charlebois also pointed to changes in water use as a concern, saying High Park Farms – a cannabis operation in Enniskillen – has closed. It was a significant water user. The CAO says some of that shortfall – estimated around 40,000 cubic meters by Enniskillen officials – will be made up by new homes being built in Petrolia.

Charlebois couldn’t say how much water and sewer use would increase because of new residential construction.

Water rates bring in $2.3 million yearly and sewer rates bring in $1.7 million according to figures provided by the town.

Only one citizen came to the public meeting to voice concern. 

Chantal Fortin asked how the town could justify a four per cent rate hike. “I think two per cent would be fair but four per cent would be extreme.”

Mayor Brad Loosley noted if council wished, it could change the fee increase during budget deliberations in January.