Water and sewer rates in Steinbach are going up. City council has approved increases of three per cent in each of the next three years (2018, 2019, 2020). The city's Chief Administrative Officer, Troy Warkentin, says the increase works out to about $12 per year for the average homeowner.

City councillor Michael Zwaagstra seconded the motion to approve the increases noting that according to provincial legislation, the city has no choice.

"We need to charge the amount that the service actually costs. That's why we have the ongoing plan in regards to making sure that the rate increases are kept at the level of what the service actually is. That's why the increase is in the three per cent range. This has been approved by the Public Utilities Board, so everything has been checked in that regard, and so it makes sense to make sure that we're providing a good service and charging what the actual value of the service is."

Councillor Susan Penner made the motion to approve the increases.

"We haven't made any adjustments on this in a couple of years so with inflation and just keeping up with our infrastructure, it's important that we keep in line with those increasing costs so we can continue to provide good service."

Water and sewer rates in Steinbach had not been changed since January 2016.