Wastewater Fees

Because ARROW Utilities—a regional commission that treats wastewater for Parkland County and 12 other municipalities—is increasing the wholesale treatment rate it charges municipalities from $2.05/m³ in 2025 to $2.75/m³ in 2026. Municipal rates must rise to cover that higher cost. 

For 2026 alone, ARROW’s rate rises 34% (from $2.05 to $2.75 per m³). This rise follows consecutive increases from $1.50 (2023) → $1.85 (2024) → $2.05 (2025)—an 83% cumulative increase from 2023 to 2026.

As for the potential for future ARROW increases, this is unclear as ARROW has not provided future rate projections. 

ARROW estimates the increase will add about $11 per month to the wastewater charge on utility bills for a typical family using ~15 m³ of water monthly. The precise amount may vary with your actual consumption.

ARROW cites the need to fund urgent maintenance and replacements on its largely 1980s era infrastructure, and to expand capacity—particularly the Train 4 project using membrane bioreactor technology. ARROW notes significant capital spending (about $250M over 10 years, including an estimated $166M for Train 4, with $50M from the Province) to maintain service reliability and meet demand.

Most of the increase comes from ARROW, and Parkland County also includes a local charge to operate and replace the County’s own sewer infrastructure. The County’s utilities are run on a cost recovery basis—rates are set to cover actual costs (wholesale treatment from ARROW plus local operations, maintenance, and renewal), not to generate profit. 

The sewer charges you see on your Utility bills include: 

• ARROW cost (passthrough): This covers regional wastewater treatment.  
• Local County cost: This covers operating, maintaining, and renewing local pipes, lift stations, and related infrastructure in communities like Entwistle, Wabamun, and Acheson. 
• Two parts of the sewer charge:  
  • Fixed charge → helps fund long term replacement and reliability of local infrastructure. 
  • Consumption charge → reflects usage and the cost of treatment. 

Parkland County is introducing a (29%) rate increase for residential properties and a (39%) rate increase for commercial/industrial properties. Commercial wastewater charges are higher than residential charges because commercial areas require larger and more complex infrastructure—such as bigger sanitary mains, additional manholes, and higher capacity lift stations. These systems cost significantly more to operate and maintain compared to residential infrastructure.

Yes. ARROW serves 13 municipalities across the Edmonton region; its wholesale increase affects every member municipality, not just Parkland County.

ARROW has indicated that further increases may be necessary, but has not provided a forecast, which complicates long term planning.

Parkland County continues to phase capital improvements responsibly to help reduce the impact of ARROW rate increases, while still maintaining a reliable service and sustainable infrastructure network.

The County uses a harmonized rate structure, meaning all rate payers contribute to wastewater infrastructure upgrades across the County.

Parkland County’s harmonized model forecasts infrastructure replacement and maintenance reserves and allows for responsible forward planning to avoid shocks to ratepayers associated with anticipated repairs or replacement to County-owned infrastructure.