Council approves new water, sewer rates

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003 | 10:21 a.m.

North Las Vegas water and sewer customers will see higher bills and face new water-use restrictions beginning Oct. 1.

The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the higher rates, which will increase the average customer's bill by about $4 beginning next month, and by about $17 a month by October 2005. The average customer now pays $37.32 a month.

The drought also prompted water-use restrictions that mirror those already adopted elsewhere in the Las Vegas Valley, and they were also unanimously approved by the council. The restrictions include strict watering schedules for residents, water budgets for golf courses, and restrictions on some misters and fountains.

City utility customers will be notified of the rate changes and drought measures, including notification of what days they can water their lawns, in letters expected to arrive at homes and businesses before Oct. 1, city spokeswoman Brenda Johnson said. Customers will receive a second notification of the changes with their bills that are expected to arrive at homes in mid- to late October, she said.

The higher water and sewer rates will increase the average monthly bill $4 to $7 in each of the next three Octobers.

The average residential customer now pays $37.32 a month, but will see his bill increase to $41.58 a month in October; $47.32 on Oct. 1, 2004; and $54.73 on Oct. 1, 2005. Slightly higher estimates of average bills released by city staff on Monday had been based on the council going with a different option on sewer rate increases.

The rate hikes are the first in 10 years for city utility customers, officials said.

In addition to the higher water and sewer rates, the council also approved increasing the $2,510 in fees charged for new water and sewer connections by $640.

A representative from the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association said the group supported the increased connection fees so long as the money from the fees is used for water and sewer projects only.

Council members thanked city staff and the volunteer Utility Advisory Board for their work on the rates, pointing out that originally staff were proposing water and sewer rate increases that would have been about $16 more than were approved Wednesday.

"This brings it down to a more fair and reasonable level," Councilwoman Shari Buck said.