Variable rates for water and sewer service will be increasing in Airdrie next year, after council approved the new rates at last week's meeting. The City's Shannon Schindeler tells us why.

Shannon says the City of Calgary publicized the rate increases well and many Airdrie residents knew we'd be affected somehow.

The variable rate for water will increase by 13.58 per cent, from $0.86 per cubic metre to $0.98 per cubic metre. The flat rate will remain the same as last year at $27.55 per month. Therefore, the total increase on the average user bill will amount to about $2.05 per month.

The variable rate for sewer will increase by 9.7 per cent, from $1.29 per cubic metre to $1.41 per cubic metre. The flat rate will remain the same as last year at $24.53 per month. The total increase on the average user bill will amount to about $2.20 per month.

Council also agreed to increase the bi-monthly waste collection fee from $19.69 to $20.34. However, to offset the increase, the City will reduce the bi-monthly environmental fee from $13.44 to $12.79.