Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to the rate charged for water and sewage treatment in Saint John. The rate here is higher than what’s charged in Moncton and Fredericton.
The proposed 2018 budget for Saint John Water amounting to $47.8 million will be presented to Common Council tonight. That represents an increase of 5.6 per cent from this year.
The Commissioner for Saint John Water Brent McGovern points out $300 million dollars is being spent on cleaning up the harbour and clean drinking water as well as Saint John being much larger in area than Moncton and Fredericton which is why the water and sewage rate is higher.
McGovern says Saint John has a lot more water and sewage infrastructure to take care of and he points to 746 kilometers of sewer mains that have to be maintained compared to 381 kilometers in Moncton and 380 kilometers in Fredericton.
