The Greater Moncton Wastewater Commission is a stand alone entity governed by a six (6) member Commission. Its activities are guided by its bylaws and applicable legislation and regulation.
Government funding was provided to enable initial construction of the collector system and wastewater treatment facility between 1983 and 1994. A funding contribution agreement was ratified in 2017 between the Government of Canada ($22,600,000), the Province of New Brunswick ($22,600,000) and TransAqua ($45,200,000) to fund the $90,400,000 WWTF Uprade and Modernization Project to upgrade from primary chemically enhanced treatment to secondary biological BNR treatment to meet federal effluent regulations by the end of 2020.
The Commission is now fully “self sufficient” in terms of its operations and activities. Although it is permitted to borrow funds, to date, it has operated with no debt and via its revenue stream and financial reserves.
Approximately 97% of the GMWC’s revenue stems from user fees from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial ratepayers in the municipalities of Dieppe, Moncton and Riverview. The 2021 user fee rate is of $210 per unit. A unit is considered equivalent to a single family residence and larger users are charged a larger number of units accordingly. The three municipalities collect the user fees on behalf of the GMWC and remit these to the Commission.
Revenue is also generated from the sale of Compost from the GMWC’s Delong Drive Compost facility and from septage haulers.
For more information on the Commission’s revenue and expenses please see the commission’s annual reports.
The Commission is solely responsible for the financing of its capital investments, replacement and refurbishment of its facilities and infrastructure. This is done via the use of funds that are surplus to its operational activities.
For larger investments, it could seek approval from the province’s Municipal Capital Borrowing Board to go to the market for borrowing of the necessary funds. As well, there is the opportunity to apply for funding assistance via applicable federal/provincial funding programs (eg Clean Water and Wastewater Fund).
Repayment of any borrowing would be via its revenue stream and unit charges such that any large borrowing may require an increase in the “unit rate” to allow repayment within the required timeframe.