What are the major features of the Sustainable Water and Sewage Systems Act?
The Sustainable Water and Sewage Systems Act provides the framework for implementing full cost accounting and recovery. Municipalities must assess the costs of water in order to charge appropriate rates and generate sufficient revenue to finance capital and operating costs. This is a two-part process – first preparing a full cost report, and secondly a cost recovery plan. The main requirements of the Act are: • All designated municipalities that provide water and sewage services must first prepare a report, called a Full Cost Report, containing: – an inventory and management plan for their infrastructure; – an assessment of the full costs of providing water services, including source protection costs, operating costs, financing costs, renewal and replacement costs, and improvement costs; and – revenue obtained to provide water and sewage services; • Two or more municipalities may produce a joint report, if it is considered appropriate by the Minister; • The report must be reviewed by t
