Water Rates
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is focused on delivering a sustainable water system for Electoral Area D by pursuing grant funding opportunities and ensuring the rates charged cover the costs of bulk water purchased from the City of Campbell River, as well as ongoing operations, capital maintenance and upgrades to the water system.
The SRD applied for a feasibility study grant which, if successful, will provide an opportunity to create a more robust case to put forward when grant funding opportunities arise for Universal Water Metering in the area.
Rate increases reflect the cost of delivering a potable, reliable water supply.
Ongoing water conservation efforts by maintaining or reducing current consumption is the best option to keep costs down. The less water used, the less purchased.
Here is a comparison of the recent rates:
Fee Type |
2020 |
2021 – CURRENT |
| Metered Properties | ||
| Residential – per cubic meter | $1.66 | $1.91 |
| Residential – user fee | $510 | $588 |
| Non-Residential – per cubic meter | $1.78 | $2.05 |
| Non-Residential – user fee | $555 | $640 |
| Non-Metered Properties | ||
| Residential – user fee | $980 | $1,129 |
| Non-Residential – user fee | $1,470 | $1,694 |
What methods of payment are currently accepted?
- Email billing | Please contact utilities@srd.ca or 250-830-6717 to receive utility invoices by email.
- On-line banking | Available using your financial institution’s bill payment service.
- Mailed cheque | Cheques with detachable portion of bill can be mailed to 301-990 Cedar St., Campbell River, B.C. V9W 7Z8. Cheques can be postdated to the due date.
- In person payment | Visit the SRD Customer Service Centre, #103 – 990 Cedar St., Campbell River, B.C. and pay by debit card, Visa, Mastercard, cheque or cash.
What is the billing cycle & when must water bills be paid?
Non-metered properties – Are billed semi-annually (Spring & Fall). The full user fee amount must be paid by year-end.
Metered properties – Are billed on a quarterly basis. The full user fee amount, plus the amount for water used above the allocated volume, must be paid by year-end.
Amounts must be paid within 60 days of invoice. Any amounts outstanding by year-end will be transferred to the Province for collection and start to accrue interest. The Surveyor of Taxes will send reminders early in the new year for amounts owing, and then any unpaid balances will be included on property tax notices.
SRD utility invoices are issued for the fiscal year; any amounts owing from previous years are due to the Surveyor of Taxes.
What is SRD doing to manage costs for providing this service?
The SRD is currently in the process of replacing the aging bulk water meters and chambers with new state-of-the-art meters and kiosks. This will ensure the most accurate readings possible with data being collected by the second. This granular level of data will improve the ability to detect leaks within the distribution system and will make certain that the volume of water being charged for is precise.
Announced July 12, 2023 – With the $2.8 million support from the province, SRD’s Universal Water Metering project will supply and install residential radio-read water meters in approx. 1,230 households in Northern Electoral Area D.
“Local governments across the province are working hard to improve or upgrade aging infrastructure, so our communities can continue to thrive,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “We’re supporting the Strathcona Regional District to modernize their water-metering system to help ensure water is used efficiently and that resources are available for future generations.” Read more at srd.ca/meters-announcement.
Do water user rates pay for other SRD costs and services?
No. All SRD’s services are self-funding, meaning all tax requisitions or utility rates are utilized to provide that particular service and cannot be used for other purposes. Any surpluses in that service are transferred to reserve to cover future costs, fund capital improvements, or provide matching grant funds.
Of the costs to maintain the Area D water service, 65-75 per cent fund bulk water purchases, 15-20 per cent fund operations and maintenance of the system, and the remaining 5-20 per cent fund other operating costs and reserve transfers to offset future capital and maintenance costs.
What is the water charge on my property taxes for?
The Electoral Area D water service is funded by a combination of utility user fees (explained above), grants, and property tax requisition.
The property tax requisition for water is based on the assessed value of your home therefore high assessed properties will pay more than a lower assessed property. See any recent Financial Plan document for more information regarding rate history and allocation.
What was the 2019 Supreme Court ruling on Northern Electoral Area D Water Rates?
The bulleted points are directly taken out of the Honorable Madame Justice Young’s ruling, which can be seen in full – HERE.
Conclusion: Fees reflect true cost of delivery, make up for deficiency in Area D rates, are solely for funding the water service and do not form part of general revenue
- These fee increases reflected the true cost of water delivery within the City boundary but did not recover the full cost of water delivered beyond the City boundary.
- The premiums reflected in the bulk water fee increase are linked to the historical and current cost of delivering water to the City and to Area D.
- Revenue generated from the bulk water fee is used solely to fund the water service. It does not form part of general revenue and is not expended in respect of other works or services.
- I am satisfied on the evidence that the water rate set out in the SRD bylaw reflects the cost to the SRD of providing the water service to residents of Area D.
I still have some questions, who should I contact?
| Issue: |
Department: |
Contact: |
| Report a leak | Property Services | engineering@srd.ca or 250-830-6718 |
| Report a water or system problem | Property Services | engineering@srd.ca or 250-830-6718 |
| Request a medical exemption | Property Services | engineering@srd.ca or 250-830-6718 |
| Billing enquiries or rates | Finance Services | utilities@srd.ca or 250-830-6700 |
| Request a meter installation | Engineering Services | engineering@srd.ca or 250-830-6719 |
| Request a new lawn permit | Property Services | engineering@srd.ca or 250-830-6718 |
| Water conservation or irrigation bylaw enquiries | Engineering Services | engineering@srd.ca or 250-830-6719 |
| Report an irrigation bylaw contravention | Bylaw Compliance | bylaws@srd.ca or 250-830-6718 |