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City of North Vancouver's utility rates to see modest increase

Water rates set for biggest jump in 2015 as CNV replaces pipes
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City of North Vancouver municipal hall.

City of North Vancouver residents will be shelling out on average an additional $31 a year in 2015 following council's unanimous move to bump utility rates by 2.9 per cent Dec. 8. ater rates are set to take the biggest jump, W increasing by five per cent to cover Metro Vancouver's higher prices and the cost of capital work.

After getting "esthetic water quality concerns" from residents, the city is planning to replace several rusting, small-diameter pipes in 2015, explained city engineer Doug Pope.

The city has 130 kilometres of ductile iron and cast iron pipes and replaces less than one per cent of that network each year. However, the city is looking to ramp up replacement rates by 2025 as the pipes approach the middle point in their service lifespan R esidents with water meters might end up paying more in the summer as the city switches to a seasonal water rate, charging more in the hottest months to match Metro Vancouver's approach.

Businesses that use more water in the summer will see a "modest increase" in their yearly bill, according to Pope.

The price of sewer and drainage is scheduled to hop 3.5 per cent as the city gets set to re-route some storm mains to deal with overflow.

"We are anticipating that our storm systems will be vulnerable to climate change," Pope said, citing an increased frequency of severe storms.

The city is also planning to gradually expand their storm system to reach areas of the city that aren't covered.

The lower tipping fees associated with green waste as compared to garbage have resulted in a zero per cent rate increase for solid waste and recycling in 2015.

The city is planning to expand the food scraps program to multi-family buildings in 2015, according to Pope.