Residents outraged by the city's new seasonal water rate system flooded an Abbotsford city council meeting on Monday night.

Three speakers addressed the council on behalf of a crowd of 100 people and argued for a return to the old flat rate system. It was argued tiered water rates are punitive to large families and those with legal secondary suites. Resident Musleh Hak-ki suggested a large family's water bill could almost double if they continued to be subject to tiered rates.

The new rates were levied in July 2011 along with a new bi-monthly billing system.

Rates during the May-October peak season are tied to how much water residents use during each two-month period. Water consumption tends to increase in the summer due to outdoor use. Peak rates for the first 60 cubic metres of water used is $1.13 per cubic metre.

The rate for 61-90 cubic metres is $1.43 while more than 91 cubic metres is $2.26. The uniform rate from November to April is $1.13 per cubic metre.

City staff told council tiered water rates are a valuable tool to encourage water conservation during peak season.

Conservation is more important than ever, as the city must come up with a new plan for a future water source following the public's rejection of the P3 Stave Lake water project in the Nov. 19 referendum. A report to council recommended a new tier adjustment for large families be approved along with another allocation for legal secondary suites. However, it noted that 65 per cent of residential customers remained in the first tier rate this summer.

Council deferred the matter back to staff for a month to develop cost comparisons before making any further decisions.

RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com