Sewer rates have gone up 108% in the last ten years with water rates not far behind at 84% and there appears to be no end in site for utility customers in Moose Jaw. City Council has just given initial approval to another 9% increase for both water and sewer rates in 2016.

Finance Director Brian Acker says aging infrastructure is to blame, along with years of failing to increase utility rates in order to pay for the work that kept getting put off.

"Most of that infrastructure is 50, 60 and 70 years old." said Acker. "This is an attempt not to be able to generate the revenues to be able to fund that and where that ends? I'm not sure anybody knows because as we go forward each year, we tend to uncover additional areas where there is significant amounts of work that needs to be done.

Acker says they have a huge list of projects that need funding to the tune of $130 million dollars in the next five years alone. Cast iron water mains are just one part of the puzzle with the water treatment plant in need of upgrades, sewer lines in need of repairs and funds are needed to pay of the waste water treatment plant that was just recently updated.

Currently, Moose Jaw is the third cheapest out of the nine major cities for residential utilities rates according to Acker and 2nd lowest for commercial rates.