The Red-Seine-Rat (RSR) Wastewater Cooperative Ltd. has applied for initial interim wastewater rates that will affect residents and businesses across southeastern Manitoba, including those in Niverville. On February 25, 2026, the cooperative posted a notice with the Rural Municipality of Hanover to begin the regulatory process for setting these temporary fees.
The cooperative is asking the Manitoba Public Utilities Board to approve the interim charges while a more comprehensive long-term rate study is completed. These fees are intended to provide the utility with necessary cash flow for operational and capital financing costs as the regional project moves toward construction.
The rate application follows the announcement that the total estimated cost for the regional wastewater project has grown to approximately $235 million. In February 2026, the construction firm Aecon was awarded a $205 million contract to build the new mechanical treatment facility near Niverville.
The project is supported by a $140 million combined loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which is shared among five Manitoba communities. The RSR cooperative’s portion of this credit facility is $51 million, covering the treatment plant and approximately 90 kilometres of conveyance piping that will connect Niverville with the municipalities of Hanover, Ritchot, Tache, De Salaberry, and La Broquerie.
Jim Funk, the chair of the cooperative and reeve of the RM of Hanover, says the project is reaching a pivotal moment. Residents in the participating municipalities are encouraged to check their local municipal websites for details on how to provide feedback or participate in public hearings regarding the proposed rates.
