June 26, 2025; Liverpool, NS: At the June 24, 2025 Region of Queens Municipality’s Regular Council meeting, Council approved a motion to submit an application to Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board (NSRAB) for an increase to water rates, to be implemented over three years. The increases will bring the water rates from what have been the lowest in the province to being in line with the rates in other Municipalities operating water utilities. Region of Queens Water Utility is currently operating in a deficit position and will continue to do so until revenues are increased to compensate for increases in costs.
“The increase in water rate is reflective of the actual costs of running an aging water utility, and will take the utility from operating at a substantial loss each year, to being able to sustain itself,” said Scott Christian, Mayor of Region of Queens Municipality. “Council is supportive of planning for the future of Queens County residents, and feel it is important to be able to continue to provide reliable, safe, potable water for the health and wellbeing of our residents.”
The proposed increases to rates for water utility users have the largest increases in the initial year, at an average increase of 106% per household. This will bring revenues in line with costs immediately. In the following years, the increase will be 3.8% in year two and 2.7% in year three. These increases are subject to the approval of the NSRAB. Independent consultants were hired to prepare the rate study application to submit to the NSRAB. G.A. Eisnor Consulting Limited and Blaine S Rooney Consulting Limited calculated the rates based on current consumption levels and operating expenses.
Rate setting is a public process and the rate hearing will provide an opportunity for public input on the proposed rates. Members of the public must register to speak at the hearing. Information regarding registration will be included on the public notice of hearing. Rate hearing information will be advertised by the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board, and that information will be posted on the Region of Queens Municipality’s website and social media channels to increase public awareness and engagement in the process. Copies of the proposed rate study will be available at the Municipal Administration Building.
In anticipation of water rate increases, Region of Queens Municipality’s Council included $15,000 in the 2025 – 2026 Operational Budget to establish a subsidy program to provide financial support to low-income Utility customers. The subsidy program is currently being developed, and will be available when/if the increases take effect. It is expected that it will be several months before the NSRAB makes their decision on the water rate increase application.
Region of Queens Water Utility is operated by the municipality, and services properties in both Liverpool and Brooklyn. This water system is operated as a stand-alone, independently funded water utility which sees the users of the system paying the full cost of its operation and services, and these costs are not normally subsidized by the general tax rate. The NSRAB regulates the operation of all public water utilities in Nova Scotia and any changes to rates, charges or operating policies requiring Board approval. The Board also must approve any capital projects over $250,000 before projects may start. Over the last several years, Region of Queens Water Utility has faced challenges operationally with staffing, and with significant damage to the treatment plant during a severe thunderstorm in July 2023 that destroyed a large amount of sensitive and expensive instrumentation and equipment at the site. These challenges have required the Utility fund the cost of instrumentation and equipment replacement that were not covered by insurance, as well as engage a consultant to assume the regulated responsibility of ‘Overall Direct Responsible Charge’ to maintain operational compliance.
CLICK HERE to read the Water Rate Study.
CLICK HERE for a sheet of Frequently Asked Questions.
