Council told water and sewer rate study, leak detection work planned for FY26

City staff told the Columbia Falls budget workshop that preliminary engineering reviews are underway for both water and sewer systems and that staff intends to recommend a rate adjustment after completing a rate study in FY26.

Staff said the work includes engineering (EOR) tasks tied to the city’s growth policy and a planned rate-study process that will result in a council recommendation on adjustments needed to maintain system revenues. Staff said utility rates have not been increased recently and described the city’s desire to maintain relatively low rates while addressing system needs.

The workshop also highlighted continuing efforts to find and repair water loss in the distribution system. Staff said routine leak detection and targeted repairs have been ongoing, and that the city sometimes must weigh the cost of large-scale leak-detection work against the expected water and cost savings. On sewer, staff reported that a bioreactor replacement project is progressing and that work is expected to move forward in the coming months.

No rate adjustments were adopted at the workshop; staff said a formal rate study will precede any council action on utility rate changes.