This story was updated with a statement from the City of Lethbridge on water treatment costs.
Water rates in the Town of Picture Butte will increase at the beginning of May.
The Town of Picture Butte, which purchases water from the City of Lethbridge, said the city has raised its rates by 40 per cent. In response, the town is adjusting its own rates to cover the increase.
As of May 1, the monthly water rate in the town will be $55, with overage charges set at $2.15.
In a statement, town officials stated, “Council recognizes that increasing water rates affects every household and has made every effort to keep the impact as minimal as possible. The Town is currently reviewing changes to how we charge for water consumption to make it a more equitable fee structure.”
Other municipalities affected by the increase include the Town of Coaldale, Town of Coalhurst and Lethbridge County.
According to City of Lethbridge officials, two cost-of-service studies conducted in 2023 and 2025 found the previous rates did not cover the full cost of treated water. This includes treatment, pumping, storage and the upkeep of key underground infrastructure.
“To match rates with the cost of providing this service, city council updated Water Bylaw 3999 in September 2025 to increase regional water rates from $0.544 per cubic metre to $0.851 per cubic metre,” a statement from the city said. “The City provides the treated water at its true cost, and regional customers choose how they set rates for their own residents based on their needs.”
Regional customers were notified at the time of the bylaw change, with the cost-recovery rates taking effect Jan. 1, 2026.
