Castor’s town council received the second-last 2022 update on the community’s gas and water systems during the Jan. 9 council meeting.
According to interim-chief administrative officer (CAO) Donna Rowland, things continue to look good for both of the town-owned utilities.
On the gas side of the utility system, the Town of Castor continues to make a small profit of 2.38 per cent.
As the town is a member of the Alberta Federation of Gas, there are certain rules that it must follow in operating the gas system such as keeping the system within three per cent of zero.
Surpluses or shortfalls greater than three per cent will trigger an audit by the gas federation.
Less good news is to be had on the water side of the town-owned utilities; although the news is still better than it has been in years.
As of the end of November, the Town of Castor’s water losses had crept up subtly to 10.8 per cent, which is still down significantly from the 24.37 per cent they sat at as of the end of December 2021.
“(It’s) much better than it has been in previous years, just not as good as the previous month,” said Rowland.
“It’s still considerably better than it was in the past, (but) still not quite where I’d like to see it.”
The highest reported water loss for the Town of Castor water system was at the end of December 2010, where it was reported to be 28.26 per cent.
In the decade between 2011 and 2021, the water system averaged 20.25 per cent losses before being brought under control in 2022.
Bylaw amendment
Castor’s town council has amended its water and sewer connection fees in the Utility Bylaw.
Administration and council reviewed the previous rates and deemed them too high.
The new rates for water connections will be $3,000 for 20 mm to 50 mm pipe up to 90 metres onto a residential property within the town limits.
For a 75 mm pipe, the cost needs to be estimated by town staff.
County residents just outside of the town borders can connect to the municipal water system; however, all sizes need to be estimated by town staff and the work can only be done if approved by council.
For sewage connections, the fee is again $3,000 for connections from 25 mm to 150 mm. Connections of 200 mm need to be estimated by town staff.
Again, out of town consumers can arrange connection to the municipal sewer system; however, such connections need to be approved by council.
Once connected, water use charges remain at $60 per month for the first 13 cubic-metres of water used for services on 20 mm connections, going all the way up to $1,920 per month for the first 436 cubic-metres for those on 75 mm connections.
Sewage fees remain at $30 per month for residential service and 25 per cent of water-used for commercial clients.