Water rates will be rising next year for the towns of Innisfail, Bowden, Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs, and Crossfield.
The Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission has notified its member towns of a 15 per cent rate increase in 2026, according to the Chairman of the Commission. Michael Knight says “the reason for that being is we have had significant leaks between Olds and the commission plant area, Bowden and the plant area. We have some significant challenges we have to overcome in the next few years.” Knight has been on the water commission since 2021 and this is his second year as Chair. He is also now in his second term on council for the Town of Crossfield. In addition to a record number of line leaks, the commission lists rising costs across all sectors, preparation for critical infrastructure upgrades, provincial guidance on rate competitiveness, and ensuring long-term sustainable service as reasons behind the increase.
In the past, Knight says typically the commission has only raised the rates between 3 and 9 per cent. He notes they are trying to be good stewards of the local water treatment plant to keep this facility settled up for quite a while. Knight says “also we are talking to the government for some funding and the government noted that we need to have a decent comparable rate out there compared to other commissions and our rate was noticed that was significantly less than most commissions so, you know, in our ability to obtain funds from the government, we do have to raise our rates significantly to make that fairness work out.”
The 15 per cent increase by the local commission will take the water rate to $2.53 per cubic metre effective April 1st. Comparable regional water commission rates are $4.62 per cubic metre in Aqua 7/Kneehill Rockyview and $5.28 for Highway 21/Lacombe County.
