Saanich balances water utility fees to ensure more sustainable funding

Saanich, BC – The District of Saanich is shifting a larger share of water utility fees to a fixed rate. This approach minimizes the risk of the water and sewer budgets going into a deficit and stabilizes rate increases. 

Resident impact 

In 2024, Council approved allocating the 2025 Sewer and Water budget increase to the flat portion of rates—keeping consumption rates unchanged—as a first step in modernizing the historical 90:10 consumption to flat split toward a more sustainable balance. Traditionally, annual utility rate increases have been applied to both the flat rate and consumption rate which has created an overreliance on the consumption rate.  

Mirroring best practice used by other municipalities, the District intends to maintain a 50/50 split to provide funding stability while incentivizing water conservation. Based on historical increases in the utility budgets, it would take approximately 7-10 years to transition to a 50/50 split. For 2026, Saanich will continue towards a more equal split.  

2026 utility fee increases 

Every year, Saanich reviews Solid Waste Services, Sewer and Water rates to ensure upcoming year revenues meet operational requirements, with proposed rates presented to Council for approval. For 2026, changes are required to offset operational and capital cost increases and higher regional service fees, particularly from the Capital Regional District (CRD). 

In addition to the small increase to the flat rate of water utility fees, sewer utility fees are increasing by an estimated $7.31 per month ($87.72 annually) for a typical homeowner. 

Lastly, for a household with both garbage and organics carts, proposed 2026 annual fees will be approximately $6 more per trimester bill. This is in response to the CRD Hartland disposal fee being increased from $135 to $142.50 per tonne and a $5.47/tonne rise in compost hauling and processing fee.