News

Bottineau’s water rates increase

By Scott Wagar

02/24/2015

Local residents in Bottineau discovered that their water rates went up this month as they saw their monthly water bills, which has increased due to a number of issues concerning water in the city.

Starting Feb. 1, all property owners in Bottineau saw the minimum charge for zero to 1,000 gallons increase to $15.05, while anything over 1,000 gallons increased to $4.70 per thousand gallons, or .47 cents per 100 gallons. 

Since 2011, zero to 2,000 gallons of water was $9.15 and anything over 2,000 gallons was $3.15 per thousand gallons, or .31 cents per 100 gallons.

According to Penny Nostdahl, city auditor of Bottineau, a number of factors led to the rate increase, which included increase costs in wages, water chemicals and electricity. 

For some Bottineau residents, they will also see an additional charge to their water bill because they reside in what is called a rural water royalty area.

“Unfortunately, in these areas, the city is bound to a water service agreement with All Seasons Water Users. This agreement stems from a federal law in 1976 that gave rural water the right to service these areas of the city,” Nostdahl said. “This law did not come to the city’s attention until last year and it has been happening to other cities in North Dakota as well. “Because of this law, there will be an additional water fee attached to residents’ rates in these areas called a water royalty payment,” Nostdahl added. “This additional payment is collected by the city and then in turn paid to All Seasons Rural Water District.” 

The additional cost to the residents who live in these areas will be billed an extra $1.89 per thousand gallons in addition to the city’s new water rate. 

Those residents or business owners who reside in the Preserve Development; the lots in front of Walmart or the new Kersten development on the east side of the city will have to pay the water royalty payments. 

The water will be provided by the city, but since it is on All Seasons land, the city will have to pay rural water the royalties.  
Ben Aufforth, Bottineau’s mayor, stated that the new royalty payment came down to mediation.

“It is basically arbitration,” Aufforth said. “They (All Season) had the rights, these people (developers) wanted to annex. So, we are stepping on their rights and this is the agreement we came to.”