Aquatera rate increase OK’d by city council

Effective March 1, Aquatera customers will see a rate increase as city council approved changes to the bylaw Monday evening.

The rate increases, which averages approximately $6.47 per month for a family of four in 2013 and an increase of $6.76 in 2014, were approved 7-2 during the meeting.

Decreased water revenue, increased operational costs and the capital investment of $48 million for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plan – $10 million less than expected due to a Government of Canada infrastructure grant – have been blamed for the increase in rates.

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New Cremona treatment plant opens Nov. 24

Officials from the village of Cremona are keen to invite area residents to attend the grand opening of their newly upgraded water treatment plant.

Cremona is located 20 minutes north of Cochrane on Highway 22.

The village of less than 500 has spent more than a year going through a process that included grant approvals and upgrades to go from total chlorine to free chlorine drinking water, according to Chief Executive Officer Terry Lofstrom.

“As far back as summer 2010 we went through the biological testing process and the infiltration process,” he explained.

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