New Utility Rate Effective January 1, 2027
For 2027, Harvey Rural Community’s municipal sewer rate will be:
- $308 per user unit per year
- $154 per billing cycle
This is an increase of $14 per year, or $7 per billing cycle, from the 2026 rate of $294. For a single user unit, that works out to approximately $1.17 per month.
| Municipal sewer system users can continue to make e-Transfer payments to admin@harveyruralcommunity.ca. |
Why is the rate changing?
Harvey’s Sewer Utility is funded by its users and operates separately from the Municipality’s General Operating Fund. User fees support the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the wastewater system, including treatment, collection infrastructure, lift stations, power, repairs, staffing and other operating requirements.
The 2027 Utility Budget totals $113,867, compared with $119,589 in the 2026 budget.
While the overall budget is lower, reserve transfers and other financial items can vary from year to year. The underlying cost of safely operating and maintaining the wastewater system continues to increase, which is why a modest adjustment to the user rate is required.
Keeping Harvey’s Sewer Rate Affordable
Even with the 2027 adjustment, Harvey’s annual sewer rate continues to compare favourably with published sewer-only rates in other New Brunswick communities.
Maintaining that affordability over the long-term means continuing to invest in the system while finding opportunities to bring outside funding and additional users into the Utility.
A $3.38 Million Investment Without Putting the Capital Cost on Existing Sewer Users
One of the most significant developments for Harvey’s Sewer Utility is the wastewater and stormwater infrastructure investment associated with the Cherry Mountain housing project.
The project represents approximately $3.38 million in wastewater and infrastructure investment:
| Funding Source | Contribution |
| Government of Canada – CHIF | $1,687,635 |
| Province of New Brunswick – CHIF | $1,124,977 |
| HRC share – HAF | $562,658 |
| Total | $3,375,270 |
Importantly, Harvey’s required municipal share is being funded through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).
That means the full $3.38 million capital investment is being supported through external government funding rather than existing sewer-user rates.
The project will extend wastewater and infrastructure to support new housing while also rehabilitating and expanding Harvey’s existing wastewater treatment system. The funded infrastructure is designed to support up to 100 additional homes, while improvements to the lagoon will provide capacity for approximately 250 additional wastewater users.
Why Cherry Mountain Matters to Existing Sewer Customers
The benefits of this investment go well beyond the new development. Harvey is able to make approximately $3.38 million in capital improvements, including improvements to wastewater infrastructure existing customers already rely on, without asking sewer customers to finance those capital costs through their annual rates.
As new homes are built and connected to the municipal sewer system, they also become new Utility customers and begin contributing toward the ongoing cost of operating and maintaining the system.
Many wastewater costs are relatively fixed. Treatment facilities, lift stations, inspections, maintenance and other infrastructure need to be operated regardless of how many customers are connected.
Growing the number of user units allows those costs to be shared across a larger customer base.
That does not mean rates will never increase. Energy, maintenance, staffing and infrastructure costs will continue to change over time. However, bringing more users into the system can help reduce the amount of future cost pressure that would otherwise have to be carried by each existing customer.
In short, Harvey is using external funding and responsible growth to improve the wastewater system without placing the capital cost of that growth on today’s sewer customers.
Looking Ahead to 2027
During 2027, HRC will continue regular wastewater operations and maintenance while working with its engineering and funding partners to advance the Cherry Mountain infrastructure project and improvements to the wastewater treatment system.
The overall objective is to:
- maintain safe and reliable wastewater service
- address existing infrastructure needs
- maximize external infrastructure funding
- support new housing and responsible growth
- increase the number of users contributing to the Utility over time
- help keep sewer rates affordable and predictable for existing customers
The new rate takes effect January 1, 2027.