Updated 08/12/2010
"The Heart of Good Spirit Country"
Town of Canora's Public Works Department employs 10 workers who are responsible for the maintenance of the municipal infrastructure in the community.
Canora has a grass airstrip located on the west side of the community.
a) A $30.00 connection fee shall be paid to the Town each time a consumer:
i) wants to be supplied with water from the municipal system; or
ii) wants to have their water turned off and back on again when doing plumbing work on a building.
a) All consumers who are not the owners of the property to be served shall pay a $150.00 meter deposit to the Town.
b) The meter deposit shall be refunded upon service being discontinued, provided all water usage charges are paid in full.
The above water connection fee and meter deposit must be prepaid, prior to water being turned on. Utility connections will not be opened unless the above fees have been prepaid.
Canora's municipal water supply was upgraded in 2000 with the completion of a well-field project. At that time, the community switched from a river-water supply to a source of six wells drilled several miles northeast of town.
Canora's water was judged to be the best-tasting municipal water in Canada at an international competition in 2003. The Town employs one full-time worker to monitor water treatment facilities and ensure the excellent quality of its water is maintained.
To maintain an adequate supply of water, two additional wells were installed in 2004, bringing the total number to eight.
According to the policy, the following monthly rates shall apply, as adopted under the bylaw dated April 7, 2009, to ensure that revenues cover operating, capital and debt repayment costs. Council is planning to maintain these rates for five years.
Where a water and sewer service connection is supplied by the Town:
0 to 2,000 gallons minimum charge of $34.00 for a one-month period
2,001 to 6,000 gallons $8.01 per 1,000 gallons
6,001 to 10,000 gallons $8.12 per 1,000 gallons
Over 10,000 gallons $8.25 per 1,000 gallons
Where a water service connection only is supplied by the Town:
0 to 2,000 gallons minimum charge of $31.00 for a one-month period
2,001 to 6,000 gallons $6.00 per 1,000 gallons
6,001 to 10,000 gallons $6.09 per 1,000 gallons
Over 10,000 gallons $6.18 per 1,000 gallons
Council will conduct an annual review of the waterworks policy to ensure revenues continue to cover operating, capital and debt repayment costs. By planning waterworks rates ahead of time, users will be able to prepare for and adjust to fluctuations. Bylaws will be passed when it is necessary to change the water rates.
How rates are determined
The rate established on April 7, 2009 currently generates sufficient revenues to cover operating, capital and debt repayment costs and provide for reserve building. Operating costs include staff wages and benefits, contracted services, heat, power, phone, insurance, repairs, maintenance, materials and supplies. Capital costs include both infrastructure maintenance and replacement projects. Debt repayment costs include annual debenture and long-term loan payments. When practical, any excess of revenues over expenses is designated for a water and sewer reserve fund.
Policy objective
The objective of the rate policy is to ensure waterworks are self-sustaining and that users bear the costs of the service. To facilitate this, rates need to generate revenues that cover operating, capital and debt repayment costs. Council will review its waterworks policy annually to determine whether or not revenues are covering costs. Council may consider increasing rates to fund reserves for future infrastructure costs, including the replacement of a water well in 2009, as identified in the Town of Canora’s five-year capital plan. This policy will maintain a financially independent waterworks that provides safe, quality drinking water.
Objective
The objective of the capital investment strategy is to address anticipated infrastructure maintenance and replacement projects and ensure Canora’s waterworks continues to provide safe, quality drinking water to all users, including the Canora Rural Public Utility Board. The strategy uses the 2005 waterworks assessment conducted by KGS Group, as required by Saskatchewan Environment, and the Town of Canora’s five-year capital plan for infrastructure planning.
To meet the costs of future infrastructure maintenance and replacements, council will ensure water rates cover operating, capital and debt repayment costs and will endeavour to build water and sewer reserves.
Capital plan
A waterworks capital plan has been established to address infrastructure maintenance and replacement projects as identified in the Town of Canora’s overall five-year capital plan. The current waterworks capital plan and planned sources of funding are as follows:
|
Project |
Year |
Estimated cost |
Source of funding |
|
Lagoon cleaning |
2008 |
25,000 |
Reserves |
|
Well field communications |
2008 |
50,000 |
Reserves |
|
Water main replacement |
2008 |
160,000 |
Operating, local improvment |
|
Recondition two wells |
2008 |
15,000 |
Reserves |
| Sewer lift generator | 2008 | 30,000 | Reserves |
| Spectrophotometer | 2008 | 4,110 | Operating revenue |
| Digital titrator | 2008 | 1,050 | Operating revenue |
|
VFD for reservoir |
2009 |
10,000 |
Operating revenue |
| Replace Well No. 3 | 2009 | 55,000 | Grant funding |
|
Water main replacement |
2009 |
160,000 |
Operating, local improvment |
|
Channel clearing |
2009 |
10,000 |
Operating revenue |
|
Reservoir cleaning |
2010 |
15,000 |
Operating revenue |
|
Recondition two wells |
2010 |
30,000 |
Reserves, operatng revenue |
|
Storm sewer upgrades |
2010 |
50,000 |
Operating revenue |
|
Valves and hydrants |
2010 |
20,000 |
Operating revenue |
|
WTP renovations |
2010 |
10,000 |
Operating revenue |
|
Channel clearing |
2010 |
10,000 |
Reserves |
| Sink new well | 2011 | 80,000 | Reserves, operatng revenue |
|
WTP upgrades |
2011 |
30,000 |
Reserves |
|
Water main replacement |
2011 |
150,000 |
Operating, local improvment |
|
Sewer lift upgrades |
2011 |
120,000 |
Operating revenue |
|
Storm sewer upgrades |
2011 |
50,000 |
Operating revenue |
|
Recondition three wells |
2012 |
45,000 |
Reserves, operatng revenue |
| WTP upgrades | 2012 | 30,000 | Reserves, operatng revenue |
|
Storm sewer replacement |
2011 |
50,000 |
Local improvement |
| Sewer lift upgrade | 2012 |
20,000 |
Reserves, operatng revenue |
| Channel clearing | 2012 | 10,000 | Operating revenue |
For future waterworks capital plans, projects will be prioritized based on what is needed to ensure safe, quality drinking water.
Total 2007 waterworks revenues (R): $593,014
Total 2007 waterworks expenditures (E): $261,468
Total 2007 debt payments on waterworks infrastructure loans (D): $125,419
Comparison of revenues to expenditures plus debt payments, expressed as ratio:
R / (E + D) = ratio
593,014 / (261,468 + 125,419) = 1.53
For 2007, waterworks revenues covered 100 per cent of waterworks expenditures.
Amount of 2007 revenues transferred out of the utility to general revenue: $206,127
Reserves
Reserves available for waterworks capital infrastructure: $113,500
Attachments2005 Waterworks assessment, conducted by KGS Group, as required under Section 35 of The Water Regulations, 2002.
Canora Rural Public Utility Board agreement.
For more information regarding the Waterworks rate policy or capital investment strategy, please contact the town office.
In addition to supplying its residents with quality drinking water, Canora also supplies water to the Canora and District Rural Public Utility Board, which in turn pipes the town's water to many surrounding farm yards, resort properties at Good Spirit Lake, the Hamlet of Mikado and Village of Rama.
Copyright © 2004 [Town of Canora] All rights reserved.
