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Greater Vernon water rates drop

The metered consumption rate is going up but the infrastructure base fee is decreasing
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Greater Vernon water users could get a break.

On Thursday, the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee approved rates for 2017.

“The metered consumption rate is going up 3.7 per cent and the impact on the average residential property is about $13 per year,” said Stephen Banmen, the Regional District of North Okanagan’s finance general manager.

“The infrastructure base fee is decreasing from $95 to $90 per quarter, or $20 per year. So overall, the average decrease is about $7 per year, but that depends upon one’s individual water use.”

Juliette Cunningham, GVAC chairperson, welcomes the reduction in the base fee.

“It could be an incentive if people manage their consumption,” she said, adding that proceeding with the master water plan remains a priority.

“We’re building up reserves. There will be big infrastructure deficits we must address.”