Sewer rate revenues go into a dedicated fund that is split between five focus areas including: Maintenance, Operations, Preservation, Improvement, and Administration. These key components keep the system operating efficiently and ensure the safe treatment and reuse of wastewater.
Why are sewer rate adjustments necessary?
The Water Reuse Facility requires extensive replacements and upgrades to remain viable. Reinvestment into our wastewater collections and treatment systems has not kept up with the demand.
The last significant upgrades took place in 1999 and many of the mechanical features of the Water Reuse Facility have reached the end of their useful life and need to be replaced. Several other areas of the facility had deferred maintenance due to insufficient revenues in the past to support the improvements and replacements of aging infrastructure. Our historic facility was the first of its kind in Washington State and is responsible for processing all the wastewater from homes and businesses into reclaimed water we use for irrigation and ground water recharge. We must continue investing in this critical, historic infrastructure to remain compliant with State and Federal regulations, and continue providing quality service to our customers today and into the future.
In 2017, the Yelm City Council and city staff worked during open public meetings to develop a sustainable funding plan. The rate increases were approved by the council on December 12, 2017 and rates became effective January 1, 2018.
Sewer rates are scheduled to increase on average 9.25 percent annually through 2020. The monthly rate for an average single family residential customer’s sewer bill will be approximately $69.89 in 2019, which is an approximate increase of $5.33 for your average single family household.
