COEUR d’ALENE —  The cost of sewer service in the city of Coeur d’Alene will increase 5% in April.

Monthly sewer rates for a single-family home will rise to $51.36, up from $48.92 that went into effect on April 1, 2023.

Sewer rates are scheduled to increase 5% annually for five years, topping out at $59.45 for a single-family dwelling in 2027.

One senior citizen in Coeur d’Alene, who asked that their name not be used, said she was paying about $15 a year for sewer service to her older home. Last year, she noticed the increase to nearly $50 last year.

Another increase this year and each year through 2027, even if just a few dollars, is tough to take as she said she lives on fixed income.

She questioned why the increases were substantial, especially when her water bill is around $10 a month.

“Why is sewer five times the amount?” she said. “There’s been no change in my sewer system.”

A duplex with one meter will pay monthly sewer rates of $86.19 starting April 1; residential with an addition-dwelling unit will pay $90.51; residential Fernan will pay $91.64.

According to a 2023 draft comprehensive rate and capitalization fee studies performed by HDR Engineering for the city of Coeur d’Alene, the rate change was necessary.

The study said the proposed rate adjustments would allow the city to fund projected operations and maintenance and capital needs over the next five-year period for the wastewater utility.

It said the wastewater utility was facing “a deficiency of funds over the planning period. The deficiency ranges from approximately $873,000 in fiscal 2023 to $6.4 million by fiscal year 2032. 

“These results indicate that the city’s wastewater rates will need to increase by approximately 42% over the next 10 years, and 20.5% for the five-year rate setting period,” the study said.

Total wastewater capital projects for the period of 2023 – 2032 are $82.7 million, per the study. These include:

Equipment and Capital Replacement projects, $17.7 million.  

Tertiary Membrane Filter expansion projects, $14.5 million.  

Collection system Improvements, $8.7 million.  

Trickle Filter Rehabilitation projects, $8.7 million  

Solids Handling Improvements, $5.9 million  

Ultraviolet Disinfection Upgrades, $5.1 million

The report said the city has two primary classes of service: residential and commercial customers. The majority of the city’s rate revenues are derived from residential customers. 

The city was projected to receive about $14.3 million in rate revenue in fiscal year 2023, increasing to $14.6 million in 2027 and $15.4 million in fiscal 2032.

But the study found that wasn't not enough to meet service demands.

“A rate transition plan was developed to prudently fund the utility’s operating and capital infrastructure needs," the study said.

The city does offer a "Residential-Low" monthly rate that is currently $33.46 and is scheduled to increase to $35.14 on April 1, 2024.

The wastewater portion of utility bills is based on water usage.

"The Residential-Low sewer rate was recently adjusted in the 2022 Rate Study to reflect the current cost to treat 2,500 gallons or less of wastewater," according to the minutes of the March 27, 2023 General Services/Public Works Committee meeting. "This adjustment ensures fairness of costs amongst the rate payers. This policy seeks to provide transparency to the wastewater rate payer on the qualifications required to be placed on this rate."