SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake residents will see increases in their water and sewer rates, beginning in May. The increases follow a six-month study of water and sewer rates, and a 6-1 vote to approve the increases by the Soap Lake City Council on April 9. Council Member Peter Sharp voted against the increase. 

Water and sewer rates hadn’t been raised since 2021, and Mayor Allen DuPuy said the water and sewer systems need some upgrades and repairs.

“We just have some things that need to be addressed,” DuPuy said. 

Residential sewer rates will increase to $104.49 per month from $85.65 per month. Commercial customers will pay a base rate of $87.96 per month, an increase from $72.61 per month. Along with the base rate, commercial customers pay a charge of $3.93, up from $3.22, for each 100 cubic feet of wastewater. 

Residential water rates will be $59.69 per month, an increase from $47.37 per month, for the first 500 cubic feet of water used. Residents who use more than 500 cubic feet of water in a month are subject to an overage charge, which will be $3.60 for each additional 100 cubic feet. That’s an increase from $2.75 per 100 cubic feet.

Commercial customers will pay a base charge of $62.19 per month, an increase from $49.36 per month, for 500 cubic feet. The overage charge for businesses will be $3.60 per month for every 100 cubic feet. Previously the rate was $2.86 per 100 cubic feet.

Multifamily properties will pay $53.69 per connection for water, an increase from $42.61, and an overage charge of $3.60 per 100 cubic feet. That’s an increase from the previous overage charge of $2.46. The sewage charge for multifamily properties will be $79.17 per month, an increase from $64.89 per month. 

In addition, city officials have been transferring money from the water and sewer funds to the general fund. Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Taylor said in an earlier interview that those transfers started at a time when the general fund needed extra money. 

The general fund is in better shape now, according to an analysis of the city’s budget done in October 2023. Martin Chow of the FCS Group, which did the study, suggested city officials reconsider those transfers. The city’s water fund had a positive balance but was below revenue projections, Chow said, and expenses had exceeded revenues in the sewer fund, cutting into that fund’s positive balance. 

In response council members voted to reduce the surcharge. Sharp voted no on that proposal also.

The surcharge was reduced from 35% to 32.5% for the water fund, and from 30% to 27.5% for the sewer fund. DuPuy said city officials know Soap Lake is in a challenging economic position and is asking its residents for more money, and the city must do its part.

“We’re trying to tighten our belts as well,” he said.

City officials want to start saving money for major repair and upgrade projects for both systems, DuPuy said, but some things need repairs in the short term. Nancy Wetch of Gray and Osborne, the city’s engineers, said at a February council meeting that components of the city’s sewer system require repair. 

“The lift stations are in need of serious upgrades,” Wetch said. 

The lift stations pump wastewater to the treatment facility and DuPuy said at least one has some broken parts.

“We need to get them fixed,” he said.

The proposal prompted several Soap Lake residents, and the council, to talk about options at a special meeting April 9. Residents proposed phasing in the increases over two years, but the council didn’t implement that. Council member Susan Carson said she thought city officials should think about a grace period and payment plan options. Council member Karen Woodhouse agreed and suggested an option for a donation fund.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.