Sewer rate increase goes into effect July 1

Kaua‘i County officials remind the public that a sewer rate increase goes into effect July 1.

The increase was approved is Bill 2874, passed in September 2022 by Kaua‘i County Council.

“Increasing 11% per year over a 5-year period, funds from this increase will go into much-needed repairs of facilities that are over 4 decades old,” said Kaua‘i County Engineer Troy Tanigawa in the county’s reminder. “Repairs will avoid costly emergency repairs and will increase the overall efficiency of wastewater operations.”

Tanigawa added that additional funds from the rate increase will greatly benefit the island’s wastewater infrastructure.

Wastewater rates were last adjusted July 1, 2024.

The rate structure was developed using a Cost of Service Analysis from the American Water Works Association’s “M1 Manual, Principles of Water Rates, Fees and Charges (7th Edition)” and the Water Environment Federation’s “Manual of Practice No. 27, Financing and Charges for Wastewater Systems.”

“The county uses wastewater treatment capacity assessment revenues and sewer connection charge revenues to pay for wastewater management operating and capital costs, including debt service payments,” Tanigawa added.

Contact Donald Fujimoto at 808-241-4084 or via email dfujimoto@kauai.gov for more information and to view a physical copy of Bill 2874.