Edmonds City Council to Hold Public Hearing on Sewer Rate Increase

The Edmonds City Council heard Tuesday night that a sewer rate increase will be proposed in the next few weeks, but a public hearing on the rate increase will be set before the council takes action, according to a report by My Edmonds News.

The city of Edmonds says it needs to raise sewer system utility rates to replace and repair its aging sewer mains, among other things, according to a financial analysis being done as the city looks at its overall sewer system plan.

Rate increases are also necessary to minimize root blockages in the system and to update and repair the wastewater treatment plant, the city says.

The collection system and wastewater treatment plant fixes are part of a $23 million upgrade that the city says needs to be financed in the next seven years. Current utility rates won’t cover that, so the city will be looking at selling $16.2 million in bonds to help pay for the work, as well as raising sewer rates.

Much of the sewer system was built in the 1950s, with some pipes dating back to the 1920s, according to minutes from the June 26 Planning Board meeting.