ATHABASCA — Athabasca County councillors gave their administration the go-ahead and the funds to start investigating the feasibility of transferring water and sewer utility delivery within rural hamlets to the Aspen Regional Water Services Commission (ARWSC).
During their Aug 29 regular meeting, councillors opted not to select the item for discussion, and the recommended motion that up to $60,000 from general reserves to be allocated towards legal fees and a due diligence study for a potential asset transfer was passed.
The request for decision in the meeting’s agenda package noted council had previously passed a motion to begin working with the commission on the possible transfer, a move Reeve Brian Hall recalled making in the fall of 2022.
“It’s important to understand there’s no done deal and there’s no decision made,” said Hall in a Sept. 4 interview. “It’s about looking at can we provide services better and is there a way to get water delivered in a more cost-effective manner?”
Current water rates for county residents were last updated in December 2022. Colinton residents pay the base rate set by ARWSC, plus an additional $3.20 per cubic meter up to 10 meters cubed. Upwards of 10m3, charges increase to $5.13/m3 on top of the base rate.
Those living in the hamlets of Wandering River and Grassland, as well as rural subdivisions pay $5.13/m3 regardless of usage in addition to the ARWSC base rate.
Sewer charges for Colinton, Grassland, and Wandering River residents using the utility are 35 per cent of their monthly water bills. Rochester residents pay $20 per month for sewer, and commercial sites within the hamlet pay $37 a month.
