KALAMA'S WATER/SEWER RATE STUDY

 2020 Water, Sewer, Storm Utility Rate Study

History - In 2015 the City conducted its first comprehensive utility rate study for water and sewer rates. The final report was presented at a public hearing on October 21, 2015. The Study recommends the City increase rates in each of the next five years in order to meet the operating costs, depreciation, and maintenance/improvement requirements of the System. Water rates increased 4% in 2016 and then 2% in each of the following 4 years. Sewer rates increased 9.5% in 2016 and then 9.5% in 2017 & 2018, 8.5% in 2019 and 2% in 2020.   Read the full 2015 report here.

In 2020 the City updated the rate study covering the next 5 years. The study recommended a water rate increase of 7.5% in 2021 & 2022 and 9.5% in the next 3 years - 2023-2025. Recommended sewer rate increases were 5.5% in each of the 5 years.  Recommended stormwater rate increases of 9.5% in each of the 5 years. The City Council, recognizing the impacts of the COVID pandemic and other economic factors made the choice to adopt rate increases at less than the recommendations for water and sewer in 2021 and 2022 and will review rate increases each year during the budget process.