Residents living in Ste. Agathe are being warned to expect an increase to their water utility rates.

Shane Pelletier is Deputy Mayor for the Rural Municipality of Ritchot. He explains this utility ran a deficit this year of approximately $67,000. As a result, it will be reviewed by the Public Utilities Board (PUB), to see where the shortfall is coming from and how to get back in the black.

Pelletier says it appears the deficit is being attributed to a couple of projects having to do with the Ste. Agathe lagoon, which is part of this utility. This is the result of needing to remove sludge from the lagoon due to some contaminants that got in. And Pelletier says it appears that might happen again this year.

Some Councillors suggest it has probably been close to twenty years since the utility was last reviewed. Chief Administrative Officer Mitch Duval says as a result, residents can expect the PUB review will result in quite a jump in rates.

Duval says it has been too long since the last review, noting this should be happening every five years.