Centerville residents will soon see increases in both their culinary water and drainage (stormwater) rates. 

On June 18 the city council approved a 4 percent increase in its culinary water fees, effective June 26. These rates are based on meter size and are charged on a tier system. The increase in the monthly base rate ranges from $1.35 ($36.36 to $37.71) for a ¾-inch meter (most residential connections) to an increase of $76.81 (from $1,920.27 to $1,997.08) for a 4-inch meter (large users). For residential connections, each tier (0-5,000/ 5,000-10,000/ above 10,000) will see an increase of 6 to 11 cents per 1,000 gallons. 

The rate increase is necessary because the city is seeing higher water, material and labor costs, Public Works Director Mike Carlson told the council that evening. 

“When we level the playing field out, we feel like a 4 percent increase is what we need,” he said. “Next year the forecast is we may have to go up slightly again due to what we're seeing in the labor cost if we want to continue having our master plan move forward at the pace that we’re going.”

By 2028 Centerville is anticipated to have to pay double its current rate for Weber Basin water, he added.

At the same meeting the city council approved a 53 percent increase in the drainage (storm drain) rate which addresses the cost of maintaining stormwater sewer drains and lines. 

Initially the staff suggested essentially doubling the monthly rate from $8.48 per Equivalent Service Unit (ESU) to $17 per ESU. This more than 100 percent increase would cover the costs of proposed improvements and additional personnel, “some of those things that have been long needed since our last increase about nine or 10 years ago,” Drainage Utility Supervisor David Walker told the city council. 

Those improvements, outlined in the 30-year capital facilities plan, include replacing various culverts and adding new culverts throughout the city, installing storm drains and subdrains and installing public works dry beds. Those storm drain projects are anticipated to cost more than $30 million; Centerville’s cost will be $26.5 million. Davis County pays a small portion of the cost. Subdrain projects are estimated at more than $8 million; Davis County does not share in these costs.

After feedback from the city council that the 100 percent increase would be too much at once, and with the council’s desire to see if the city could acquire grants and get UDOT to fund some improvements, the proposed increase recommendation was cut back to 53 percent.

“Luckily 53 percent does only equate to about $4 a [household],” Walker told the city council. “I know it doesn’t soften the blow for everybody, but it is per household. So, it is hopefully not a hardship to the residents, but it is beneficial.”

Councilmember Gina Hirst suggested the city implement smaller rate increases if needed while waiting for other funding rather than implementing higher increases. Walker agreed.

“Over this next year we’ll be able to get a better grasp of all of those projects that are coming up, the possible funding mechanism, whatever might be the interest from us to participate in those that’ll help guide whether we need to do another significant [increase], but yes, I think going into a  minimal increase annually might be in our best interest,” he responded.

The water department may need some additional officers which could affect that outcome; it will be something the city council will need to address in upcoming meetings, City Manager Brant Hanson said.