Businesses in and around Blackfalds are seeing higher utility bills this year as the North Red Deer Regional Wastewater Services Commission has updated its rates for 2026. These regional service costs, which cover the transport of wastewater to a treatment facility in Red Deer, have led to increased monthly expenses for industrial and commercial users.
The commission, which was formed in 2008, operates a pipeline system that serves the City of Lacombe, Lacombe County, and the Town of Blackfalds. In December 2025, Lacombe County Council approved the new utility rates that reflect the ongoing costs of operating and maintaining this regional infrastructure.
The impact is particularly noticeable for businesses in the Aspelund Industrial Park, which receives services through the Town of Blackfalds. For these businesses, the combined monthly cost for water and wastewater—based on a consumption of 72 cubic metres—has risen from $510.30 in 2025 to $557.03 in 2026. This represents a total increase of roughly 8.39 percent.
While regional wastewater rates are a factor for all users, Blackfalds residents also saw their own municipal budget finalized recently. In March 2026, the Town of Blackfalds council approved a $38.9 million operating budget. During this process, Mayor Laura Svab noted that the town worked to minimize the impact on residents, successfully reducing a previously proposed property tax increase.
To support future growth, the town is currently working on the $7.3 million Broadway Avenue Reservoir expansion project. This work, supported by a $2.3 million provincial grant, is intended to improve water and sewer capacity, ensuring the community can support a population of up to 20,000 people.
