Water rates to increase in 2023

Residents and businesses will see an increase in their bi-monthly water bills from the Point Roberts water district in 2023. The base rate for residential use will go from $93.45 to $98.10, an increase of 4.9 percent. The base rate includes 0-5 CCF of water. The rate will increase to $103 in 2024, another 4.9 percent.

Commercial rates will also increase by the same percentage amount. Commercial rates are determined by the size of the supply pipe; thus, a ¾-inch pipe has a base rate of $112.95 while a one-inch pipe costs $152.90 in 2023. Similar to residential rates, the commercial rates include a base usage of 0-5 CCF.

A CCF is equal to 100 cubic feet of water. The first C comes from centum, the Roman word for hundred. One CCF is equal to 748 gallons so the base rate of 5 CCF equals 3,740 gallons of water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American uses around 88 gallons of water per day. A family of four would use around 21,000 gallons in a two-month period.

The water district’s cost to purchase water from Metro Vancouver is also going up in 2023. District manager Dan Bourks told commissioners the district had received notice of the new rate which he called the lowest he had seen in years. The price has increased by 2 percent instead of the typical 5-7 percent.