This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Wholesale water rates and retail impact fees for hundreds of thousands of customers could go up under a proposal now being considered by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.

The district, whose wholesale customers deliver water to about 600,000 in the Salt Lake Valley, plans to increase rates by an average 5 percent. The proposed wholesale rate changes range from a 1.2 percent uptick in parts of Taylorsville to a harder-to-swallow 9.4 percent jump in parts of Riverton.

Meanwhile, the impact fees charged for new retail business hookups will increase 62 percent, according to the district's plan for next year's budget. This year's proposal is in line with past years, said David Martin, chief financial officer for the district.

"It's routine to increase rates every year to stay up with inflation and the cost of operating the system," he said.

The district sells its water to 15 member agencies, including cities like West Jordan and special service districts like the Granger-Hunter Improvement District.

And revenue from the water sales goes to keeping up with growth in the service area, such as replacing aging pipes in a South Salt Lake retail district and building new lines such as the Central Water Pipeline that taps into resources at the old Geneva Steel site and carries it into the Salt Lake Valley, Martin said.

Meanwhile, the impact fee hike will apply only to new retail customers. Retailers who sign up for a ¾-inch line would pay $3,999. The old rate, set nine years ago, was $2,472, under the proposal that is currently out for public review.

"Water's not cheap," said Martin "and all the cheap water's gone. So any water that we have to develop comes with a higher cost." —

Water rate increase hearing

I The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District wants to hear from the public on its plans to hike its impact fees for new retail customers and its rates for wholesale water customers, who are expect to pass those increases along to homes and businesses. The proposals can be seen online, at public libraries and in person, during workdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the district offices: 8275 S. 1300 West, West Jordan.

A public hearing is set May 8 at 6 p.m., also at the district offices.