N.S. municipality facing more than 60 per cent jump on water bills

CITYnews halifax / By Steve Gow

As Halifax residents face an 18.1 per cent water rate hike this year, another municipality in the province is dealing with a much more daunting increase to their utility bills.

As of Jan. 1, 2026, the average quarterly residential water rate for residents in Liverpool went up about 60 per cent with another one per cent increase expected April 1.

According to the Region of Queens Municipality, which operates the water utility, the hike is needed due to an escalating deficit, adding water rates in the Liverpool area have only increased once in 17 years.

“The reality is that over time the water rate wasn’t adjusted appropriately,” says Queen’s Mayor Scott Christian. “So we found ourselves in a position where the water utility couldn’t pay for itself.”

Christian says public utilities in Nova Scotia aren’t able to be subsidized by the general tax rate, so it is up to users to pay.

As a result, council voted to initiate a 61 per cent water rate increase over the next four months with another 26 per cent jump coming on April 1, 2027.

Christian says that while the number seems excessive, the new rate puts Liverpool and area in line witho other adjacnet muncipalities.

“It requires a significant level of treatment,” says Christian of the water in the region. “(So) this is pretty much bringing us in line with most of our neighbouring water operators.”

Christian adds that a water rebate will be incorporated within an existing municipal low-income tax rebate program to help ease the increased cost to residents.