Water & Utility Rates
Home owners in the City of Richmond are issued a utility bill annually. This bill covers services for water supply, sewage collection and treatment, drainage, diking, solid waste, recycling, flood protection, grease management and environmental programs.
The rate is set annually based on Metro Vancouver service fees and City of Richmond costs associated municipal infrastructure renewal and maintenance, operating and related services.
The 2012 utility bill due date is April 2, 2012.
The rate is set annually based on Metro Vancouver service fees and City of Richmond costs associated with municipal infrastructure renewal and maintenance, operating and related services.
The City’s total utility budget for these services in 2012 is approximately $86 million. Metro Vancouver service fees represent the largest portion, or approximately 46% of this amount. Maintenance and renewal/replacement of City infrastructure to ensure provision of these services to residents and businesses is 24% of the total. City operating costs are 22% and contract fees are 7%. The following chart depicts this breakdown:
The increase in 2012 is approximately $3.2 million. The majority of this cost relates to increases in Metro Vancouver service fees (up 4.7% over 2011 costs). Infrastructure renewal and replacement costs are up 4% and contract costs are up 4%. We work very hard to keep any increases in City operating costs to a minimum; for 2012 they are approximately over 2%.
Average Cost for City Utility Services
Based on the average single family home:
| Cost Per Year | Cost Per Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Water | $ 559.36 | $1.53 |
| Sewer | $ 360.23 | $0.99 |
| Garbage, Recycling, & Environmental Programs | $ 241.96 | $0.66 |
| Dykes & Drainage | $ 110.31 | $0.30 |
| Total | $1,271.86 | $3.48 |
Water Treatment
Richmond’s water comes from three reservoirs in the North Shore Mountains . To deliver the water, the City maintains an infrastructure of approximately 630 km of water pipe. The City constructs new and replacement water infrastructure every year, with approximately $7 million budgeted in 2012.
Water charges in 2012 are up primarily due to increases in water purchase costs to the City from Metro Vancouver as well as other Metro capital expenses. Metro Vancouver has completed a new filtration plant and other treatment equipment as well as upgrades to it’s facilities. Overall, our region , including Richmond, is investing billions of dollars in improving the treatment of our drinking water. It is making the water from our taps among the safest drinking water in the world.
The City pays Metro Vancouver for water by the cubic metre. By reducing the amount of water consumed, there are direct savings.
Water Conservation
You can save money and help the environment by participating in City programs designed to help reduce water consumption. For more information on water conservation or the City’s water metering program visit www.richmond.ca/savewater or call 604-271-9700.
Three examples of water conservation are...
Rain barrels
Rain barrels can be used to collect rainwater for watering plants, gardens, lawns, and washing outside surfaces. They are available for purchase at the City’s Recycling Depot (5555 Lynas Lane). Barrels are 45 gallons (202 litre) or 50 gallon (225 litre) for $20.00. The barrels will require a water diverter for $16.00.
Water conservation devices
Low flow showerheads and faucet aerators can be used in the kitchen and bathroom. Pop-flush devices can reduce toilet water use. These items can be found at local hardware stores.
Toilet rebate program
Toilets account for 30 per cent of indoor water usage. Changing to low-flush toilets can save 60 per cent of toilet water usage (70 litres per person per day). The City provides a $100 rebate for each 13 litre per flush toilet replaced with a 6 litre or lower per flush toilet (maximum of two toilet rebates per household). For more information visit www.richmond.ca/savewater or contact 604-244-1281.
Sewage Collection and Treatement
The City maintains 560 km of sewer mains and 151 pump stations. The City’s infrastructure takes most of the sewage to the Lulu Island sewage treatment plant, which is owned and operated by Metro Vancouver. As with water, the City also constructs new and replacement sewer infrastructure every year, with approximately $4.3 million budgeted for these works in 2012.
Cost increases in 2012 are primarily due to Metro Vancouver costs associated with operating the Lulu Island treatment plant, ensuring sewage receives primary and secondary treatment before being released into the environment.
Drainage and Flood Protection
The City's drainage infrastructure is made up of an extensive system of pump stations, flood boxes, irrigation canals and storm sewers. Each pump station is powered by electricity, which is a big part of the overall operating cost considering about 4 million litres of water per minute can be pumped, if required. All of these stations are monitored remotely, 24 hours per day, to ensure the pumps are operating effectively.
Drainage costs are increased marginally each year to allow the City to develop a fund for drainage infrastructure replacement costs, helping ensure a sound infrastructure to reduce the potential for flooding.
Recycling and Solid Waste
The utility billing also includes services relating to garbage and recycling. Metro Vancouver landfill costs in 2012 are increased from $97 to $107/tonne Other cost increases relate to contracted service fees. In addition, the City is taking a leadership role to divert 70 percent of our waste from disposal and into recycling and composting programs by 2015. Diverting waste results in direct cost savings as recycling costs are less than landfilling costs.
Food scraps represent approximately 20% of household garbage. Collected scraps are taken to a local processing facility, composted with yard and garden trimmings into a rich soil supplement. Since introducing this program, garbage tonnages have reduced by more than 3,000 tonnes and organics volumes have increased by 1,000 tonnes.
Solid waste collection services also include litter collection from City parks, road sides and bus stops.
When you compare these services to the cost of other common household items, the following demonstrates the value of these important City services.
Average Cost of Household Expenses per Day
Environmental Sustainability
Utility charges to residents also include environmental sustainability services such as ecosystem protection and enhancement, environmental planning and assessent, pesticide management, pollution prevention, and bylaw compliance. The City offers environmental sustainability workshops to the public and supports local outreach programs for the Richmond School District. For more information visit www.richmond.ca.
Payment of this year’s utility bill is due on April 2, 2012.
Residents qualify for a 10 per cent discount if payment is received on or before the due date. The net amount shown on the bill includes the discount.
How to Pay Your Utility Bill
- At your financial institution (bank, credit union).
- Through your financial institution’s web banking or telephone banking services.
- Through epost, if you are already registered and approved (see www.epost.ca for more information).
- By mail to City Hall, PO Box 94351, Richmond, BC, V6Y 2A8 (postmarks are not accepted as the date of payment).
- In person at City Hall, Monday – Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. (cash, cheque or debit card only). After hours payments may be dropped off at the City Hall drop boxes, located at the east and north side of the City Hall building.
Cheques must be made payable to the “City of Richmond.” Cheques post-dated for the due date on your bill are acceptable. Please do not send cash in the mail.
Please note that credit cards are not accepted at City Hall. Drop boxes will not be available at any of the Richmond Libraries or Community Centres.
A monthly instalment prepayment plan is available for tax and annual utilities. For metered utilities billings, there is a quartlery auto debit payment option. If you would like more details about these options, please email the Tax Department at TaxDept@richmond.ca or call the tax line at 604-276-4145.
For more information
If you have any questions, please:
- Contact the Tax Department at 604-276-4145, relating to billing or changes to your account.
- Contact the Operations Yard at 604-270-8721 and ask to speak to the manager of Water Services, Sewer and Drainage Services, or Environmental Programs for questions relating to those areas.
Volunteer to be Part of the Richmond Water Meter Program
