2026 Utility Rates Adopted by SCRD Board

At the December 11 Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board meeting, utility rates for curbside pickup (food and garbage), water and wastewater were approved for the coming year. 

For North and South Pender Harbour water services, the SCRD is implementing a new water rate structure for utility billing, to promote fairness and encourage water conservation. Beginning January 1, 2026, properties will transition from a flat-rate user fee to a volumetric user fee based on meter size and actual water consumption.  

What’s Changing?  

The flat rate is changing to a Base Charge of $850 annually, billed quarterly ($212.50 per quarter). The Base Charge includes a water consumption allowance of 46 cubic meters (m³) – 46,000 liters (approximately 500 litres a day) – of water use each quarter at no additional charge. Water used beyond the 46 m³ quarterly allowance will be charged at $4.00 per m³. Please note that service connections larger than ¾” will be billed a higher Base Charge. 

Wastewater services in the North / South Pender Harbour water service areas will also move to quarterly billing. To help residents prepare, the SCRD has already provided two cycles of mock bills.  

Additional information is available at www.scrd.ca/water-billing. 

Below are all approved utility rates for 2026. 

North Pender Harbour Water – Billed volumetrically in 2026 

South Pender Harbour Water – Billed volumetrically in 2026 

 

Regional Water Service – Billed annually in 2026 

Wastewater 

In 2026, wastewater treatment facility users in Area A (Egmont / Pender Harbour) will transition to quarterly billing. The fees for the treatment facilities that are highlighted will be charged in four installments throughout the year. 

Frontage Fees 

 

User Fees – Please note that the wastewater treatment facilities that are highlighted below will be billed quarterly. The amount shown will be paid in four installments over the year.  

Garbage and Food Waste – Billed Annually 

New Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw 

At the December 11 Board meeting, a new water rates and regulations bylaw was adopted. This new bylaw incorporates volumetric billing and provides an update on many fees associated with the delivery of clean, safe, drinking water. Water conservation regulations have also been strengthened. 

Although water rates are reviewed and updated every year, many of the fees for property-specific services have barely changed since the original bylaw was created in 1995. In the old bylaw, these fees were scattered across different sections, making the bylaw hard to read and understand. 

The new Bylaw 778 includes clearer information that brings together all service fees and charges for every SCRD Water Service Area. Many of these fees have not been updated for about 18 years, so this change helps modernize and simplify the system. 

The new bylaw is available to read here.