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Canal Winchester Council to Review Proposed 34% Utility Rate Increase Through 2030
Read the full articleA proposed multi-year schedule would raise average monthly household utility bills from $58.50 to $78.33 to finance major water and sewer infrastructure projects.
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Council Work Session · Work Session · agenda
Supporting evidence (11)
The proposal, published by city administration in the council agenda packet on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, under item OTH-26-012, outlines rate adjustments spanning 2027 through 2030.
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OTH-26-012 Utility Rates
Under the modeled schedule, a typical residential household using 4,000 gallons of water per month would see combined monthly charges for water, sewer, and stormwater rise from the current baseline of $58.50 in 2026 to $78.33 per month in 2030.
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Canal Winchester 2026 58.50$
Under the modeled schedule, a typical residential household using 4,000 gallons of water per month would see combined monthly charges for water, sewer, and stormwater rise from the current baseline of $58.50 in 2026 to $78.33 per month in 2030.
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Canal Winchester 2030 78.33$
The comparative survey prepared by city staff shows that Canal Winchester currently maintains the lowest utility charges among peer communities in central Ohio for households consuming 4,000 gallons per month.
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Cost of 4k water/sewer/storm/etc.
Among wastewater projects, the city's 28-year-old Water Reclamation Facility faces potential regulatory mandates from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regarding phosphorus limits and toxicity requirements.
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The Water Reclamation facility is 28 years old and future regulations may require upgrades to the plant. Phosphorous limits and potential toxicity requirements by the OEPA may force the WRF into some additional upgrades.
Staff noted that comprehensive facility upgrades could cost as high as $40 million.
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Cost could be projected as high as 40 million dollars.
The wastewater system is also absorbing the cost of a new $25 million Water Reclamation Headworks facility, where construction began in 2025 to replace a deteriorated 1959 structure, increase pumping capacity, and modernize raw sewage screening.
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In 2025 the city began construction of the Headworks project. The new facility will replace the existing 1959 building that has deteriorated beyond repair. The headworks will improve raw water screening and increase pumping capacity. The cost of this facility is 25 million dollars.
In the water division, staff identified a need to replace the aging water department administration complex at 223 N.
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The current facility at 223 North High Street is in fair to poor condition. Sections of the current building are over 100 years old, and not sustainable for future needs.
Preliminary estimates place the cost of a replacement building with modern laboratories, offices, storage, and garage bays at $2.0 million.
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Preliminary estimates have been projected to be 2.0 million dollars.
Staff noted that water lines along Washington Street from Dietz Road to Ashbrook Drive have failed prematurely over the past five years, requiring phased installation of a new 12-inch main up to Williamson Lane.
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The Washington Street water line from Dietz Road to Ashbrook Drive has prematurely failed over the past 5 years.
Other planned projects include a $1.0 million waterline loop connecting Washington and Gender roads south of Walnut Creek to serve Canal Winchester Middle School and southwest growth areas, $500,000 for inflow and infiltration remediation along Columbus Street and the Groveport Tributary, $500,000 for long-term utility planning, and ongoing lift station upgrades.
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The waterline loop is necessary to connect existing infrastructure south of the Walnut Creek between Washington and Gender Road water mains for service to the Canal Winchester Middle School, and southwest growth area. Estimated costs are currently $1,000,000.
Supporting evidence (2)
At that session, City Administrator Matt Peoples and public works staff presented a framework calling for 8% annual adjustments to water and sewer rates across four years.
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City administrator Matt Peoples and utility staff presented a proposal that would raise water and sewer rates by 8% each year for four years.
In response, council members directed administrators to provide regional peer comparisons and examine fund balances before any formal ordinance is introduced for legislative approval.
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Council asked staff to provide peer comparisons to neighboring municipalities and to model fund-balance impacts before any rate ordinance is introduced.