Calgary residents can expect their water utility bills to increase by 75 per cent over the next four years.
According to Calgary City News, the city says these increases are necessary.
“To improve Calgary’s water system, including maintaining and replacing aging infrastructure, supporting growth and preparing for future drought and flood risks.” reported City News.
According to the Climate and Environment Dashboard, the city of Calgary used an average of 522 million litres per day in 2025.
The new water restrictions set a target of keeping water usage in Calgary below 500 million litres per day.
This hike would raise the average monthly water bill for a household that uses 19,000 liters of water from $119 to $134 in the next year.
“Subsequent rate hikes would bring the average residential monthly water bill up to $154 in 2028, $179 in 2029 and $207 in 2030.” reported the Calgary Herald.
By 2030, households will be paying approximately $90 more per month on their water bills.
On Oct. 5, the executive committee voted 8-2 in support of the proposed fee hikes.
Those opposed were Ward 2 City Councillor Jennifer Wyness, and Ward 11 Councillor Rob Ward.
“We are trying to solve a 60 year problem in a 1 year budget in a 4 year plan," Wyness said in a statement to the Gauntlet.
These increases will help fund a $6.5 billion revamp of Calgary’s water infrastructure, following the recent Bearspaw South feeder main’s multiple failures – a pipeline that transports 60 per cent of the city’s treated water – as well as ongoing replacement work.
“Delaying investments now will keep rates lower in the short-term but it will increase the risk that things will fail and it will lead to higher costs in the future,” said Acting Chief Operating Officer for water utility, Michael Thompson, to the Calgary Herald.
News of these proposed hikes follows councillors weighing a 15 per cent property tax increase, according to preliminary documents.
This would increase the operational costs of the University.
Water and wastewater services are funded through customer utility rates, instead of property taxes. Property tax increases do not pay for waterworks improvements.
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas released a video statement on social media addressing the issue.
“Our water pipes are in piss-poor condition, and after a 10-year freeze, we have to increase our water bills,” Farkas says in the video.
“By 2024, when the Bear's Paw feeder main catastrophically failed and our city was forced into water rationing, Calgarians were actually paying about 4% less than they were in 2018, and at the same time, our region was growing rapidly.” said Farkas,
“We came dangerously close to firefighters not having enough water to fight fires. The Trans-Canada Highway collapsed from underneath. People could have died. And that changed the equation for me,”
“Our water bills need to go up so that we can make the system safe and reliable,” Farkas said “We're going after the leaks. We're replacing what's worn out. We're catching up on the work that we neglected. And we're building the water system that a city of 2 million people needs.”
In a statement to Calgary City News, Farkas also said the city is seeking financial support from the province:
“It’s a regional provincial infrastructure that we provide, serving 2 million residents and there’s definitely a business case for the province to step in and help support us,” said Farkas.
The recommendation to increase water utility bills will need final approval at a regular meeting of Calgary city council, as well as a final bylaw approval for the budget.
