Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Water and sewer increase approved

The average Winnipeg household will spend $21 more on water and sewer bills next year, as rates are going up 2.7 per cent in 2010.

City council has approved a rate increase that will help pay for Winnipeg's ongoing waste-water upgrade, which is expected to cost $1.8 billion by the time it's finished in 2030.

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Water and sewer upgrades are paid for through water-and-sewer bills, not property taxes.

The council vote was 10-4, as St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal, North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, Elmwood Coun. Lillian Thomas and Daniel McIntyre Coun. Harvey Smith opposed the increase.

Vandal opposes the transfer of water-and-waste cash to general revenues to cover land drainage. He has now voted against water-and-sewer rate increases for three straight years.

Browaty voted in protest of the provincial NDP government's insistence that the city spend millions on an extra nitrogen-removal step most water scientists believe is not necessary.

Thomas and Smith did not speak to the issue.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

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