Water and sewer rates are soaring for Meaford residents.
Council has approved the increases that take effect this month, in order to pay for major work in the town over the last few years.
Mayor Francis Richardson says the flat month rate for water is nearly doubling to 25 dollars from 15 dollars and the consumption rate is going up from 75 cents a cubic metre to $1.15.
As well, the monthly sewer charge is up slightly from 20 to 21 dollars.
Richardson says council had little choice, since the upgrades to the water system have to be paid for by the users.
Meanwhile, 48 homeowners in Leith who opted not to connect to the expanded water system a few years ago, will now have to pay the monthly flat rate for water and sewers like everyone else.
Mayor Richardson says the town has to maintain the services and if the homeowners want to hook in at some point down the road, they can do so.
They won’t pay any consumption charge.
In total, 2.7 million dollars worth of upgrades were done in Meaford, while the Leith system expansion cost 600 thousand dollars.