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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1981, PAGE 3 Inflation and 8low growth being blamed.... Water and sewer rates will jump 22% Whitby residents are facing a 22 per cent in- crease in their water and sewer bills in 1982. According to Regional Councillor Gerry Emm this increase can be blamed on three fac- tors: inflation, conser- vation and slow growth in the residential sector. In a report authored by the Durham Region's finance and public EMM works officials it is recommended that the average sewer user pay 33.8 per cent more. The increase in the water bills will be used to support a budget of $10,229,000 in 1982. As far as the water rate is concerned, Whit- by residents can take a little heart since they will be paying only 90 per cent of the uniform regional rate. This is because a surplus existed in 1976 when water and sewer ser- vices were taken over from the then-Public Utilities Commission by the region. According to Emm, this surplus is paid by the Town of Whitby to the region to offset in- creases in water billing. However, as far as sewer services are con- cerned, Whitby resi- dents will pay a stagger- ing 34 per cent in the coming year. One reason for this, Emm said, is that the town had a large debenture on sewer pipes when the region assumed control. The increases will go to support a sewer bud- get of $12,506,000. In 1981 Whitby resi- dents paid an average of $18.04 for water and $21.22 for sewer at the end of each quarter based on the consump- tion of 50,000 gallons a year. The total bill for each quarter was an average of $39.26. In 1982, this quarterly charge will rise by 22 per cent to $47.98 of which $19.58 will be for water and $28.40 will be for sewer. Emm points out that Whitby is fortunate compared to residents of the City of Oshawa who will pay a total of 30 per cent more in 1982. One of the big reasons for the jump in the sewer rates is the recyc- ling progran under- taken by the region's largest water and sewer customer, General Motors of Canada. "We have a large reduction in revenue from General Motors because of their recyc- ling program," Emm said adding that G.M. used to account for 25 per cent of the revenue for water and sewer ser- vices. Emnm, who is the chairman of regional council's public works committee which is responsible for the water and sewer system, stressed that the water and sewer rates are not part of the tax bill. "It's not on the tax rate, it's user pay." While the increases are not pleasing to him, Emm said that they are necessary if the system is going to run in the black. "The revenues are declining drastically because of several fac- tors," he said. These include anticipated slow-down in housing starts, conservation, in- flation and the fact that many industries in an effort to keep their costs down are recycling their water supply. Emm states that the chemicals used to purify water have increased by 30 per cent over the last year. He adds that the region does not want to cut down on the amount of chemicals used. "We want to assure our customers of the best quality water we can supply," he said, "And we will supply the best water possible." The councillor points to concerns expressed from many quarters in Metropolitan Toronto about the quality of water it supplies to its residents. "We will not jeopar- dize the water quality for consumption pur- poses," Emm said. "We are doing everything we can do to insure the quality of water irregardless of the cost of supplies." He also points out that this has been a wet year, therefore, people were not watering their lawns as often. "This cuts into the revenue the region needs to operate the system.." Emm also believes the conservation will force the region to re- think the design of treat- ment plants and pipe systems. "I think that in the future the designing of .plants and systems will have ta take lower con- sumption into con- sideration," he said. However, despite the current picture, Emm said that the future looks good for the region in terms of growth and if it materializes, then in- creases in water and sewer rates will decrease. "The future is good but the current situation is bad because of infla- tion, conservation and slow growth," Emm said. The proposed in- crease was due to be debated at a special committee of regional council yesterday, how- ever, the results were not known at press time. The matter is due to go before Durham Regional Council at a special meeting next week which was called to deal specifically with rate increases. One thing that should be noted is that in 1980, Durham Regional Coun- cil raised the user rates by an average of 20.5 per cent. THE WALLPAPER CENTRE * ON A LARGE SELECTED GROUP OF PATTERNS * THE WALLPAPER CENTRE OPEN THURSDAY & FRIDAYNIGHTS UNTIL NINE! 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