Calgary councillors have endorsed water utility rate hikes that could see increases of between 74 and 95 per cent by 2030 for both residential and business customers. Higher water bills are needed to help cover the costs to repair and replace Calgary’s aging infrastructure, city officials said. “I don’t mean to be flippant when I say this, but if we do not raise our water rates now, we are on the verge of a crap-pocalypse,” said Mayor Jeromy Farkas. “We cannot commit to Calgarians that when they flush their toilets, their stuff will go away if we do not properly fund our essential infrastructure,” he said. While councillors voted 9-6 in favour of approving rate hikes for the next budget cycle, an amendment leaves the door open for additional changes during budget discussions. With the approved increases, a typical residential property using 19 cubic metres of water per month would see the bill go from $119.21 in 2026 to $133.71 monthly—a 12 per cent increase in a year. In approving the rates, council also rubber-stamped increases each year, with that same residential customer paying upwards of $206.94 monthly by 2030, a jump of 74 per cent in the four years. Businesses are also facing an “egregious” rate hike over the same time period, said the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. A business using 400 cubic metres of water per month—such as a medium-sized restaurant or retailer—would see monthly water bills go from $1,661.33 in 2026 to $3,093.19 monthly in 2030. Large business consumers—including food and beverage processors and private recreation centres using 10,635 cubic metres of water—would see monthly water bills of $40,914.46 in 2026 skyrocket to $79,991.54 monthly in 2030. “When we talk about a city that wants to be competitive, that wants to attract businesses to grow our economy, this is not the way to do it,” said Deborah Yedlin, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “I’m going to call it egregious because it really renders our businesses very uncompetitive. It will squeeze their bottom lines.” Final numbers will come after the city’s four-year budget is debated and passed. Those discussions will begin at Calgary City Hall in late November.
