New date added to list of water/sewer rate structure consultations

_ (press release) _ The City is seeking residents’ feedback to help develop a new rate structure to ensure that the cost of operating and maintaining Ottawa’s water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure is done in a way that is sustainable, fair and affordable.

The current rate structure has several flaws, including:

 * 
Revenues are based almost entirely on water consumption whereas the cost of service delivery is primarily fixed and is not significantly impacted by changes in drinking water consumption.

 * 
All properties benefit from stormwater services. However, stormwater service costs are currently recovered on the water bill based on water consumption, but not every property receives a water bill.

As a result, the current structure is inequitable for residents and unsustainable for ongoing operations, maintenance and renewal of the water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure city wide.

The City is therefore proposing options for a new rate structure that would:

 * 
introduce a fixed fee component to stabilize revenues and better align with the actual cost to deliver these services

 * 
retain a consumption-based portion to promote water conservation

 * 
separate the stormwater fee from the sewer fee to ensure that everyone who benefits from stormwater infrastructure such as roadside ditches, culverts and stormwater ponds will pay their fair share towards the cost of providing them

Under the proposed options, property owners would only pay for services that they actually receive. For example, properties with private water and wastewater systems would not get a water bill, they would only pay for stormwater services.

There are several ways that residents can learn more about this important initiative and have their say about the proposed structure. ** Register ** ** for a public consultation: **

 * 
Monday, March 21, from 7 to 9 p.m., Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Boulevard

 * 
Tuesday, March 29, from 7 to 9 p.m., West Carleton Community Complex, 5670 Carp Road

 * 
Wednesday, March 30 from 7 to 9 p.m., City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West

 * 
Thursday,  March 31, from 7 to 9 p.m., Navan Memorial Centre, 1295 Colonial Road

 * 
Saturday, April 2, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Metcalfe Community Centre, 8243 Victoria Street

 * 
**
 New date –
**
Monday, April 4, from 7 to 9 p.m., Kanata Recreation Complex, 100 Charlie Rogers Place (formerly Walter Baker Place), Hall A

 * 
Tuesday, April 5, from 7 to 9 p.m., Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre, 2300 Community Way

 * 
Thursday, April 7, from 7 to 9 p.m., Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue

** Visit ottawa.ca : **

 * 
Access
[
 background documents
](http://documents.ottawa.ca/sites/documents.ottawa.ca/files/documents/backgrounder_handout_en.pdf)
tofind out more information about the proposed new structure.

 * 
View
[
 presentation materials
](http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/water-and-environment/water-and-sewer-bills/water-wastewater-and-stormwater-rate-structure)
from the public consultations and complete the
[
 feedback form
](http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/water-and-environment/water-and-sewer-bills/water-wastewater-and-stormwater-rate-structure)
after March 21.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with us through Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .