News Flat-rate increase for water and sewer could be replaced by annual percentage SHARE ON: Bob McIntyre, staff Tuesday, Jan. 5th, 2021 (flickr.com) This might be the last year for a while that water and sewer rates charged by the city of Timmins go up by a flat rate. Council has approved a $50.00 increase for this year. That’s based on a five-room house. The increase will be pro-rated for different sized houses. But in June, council might decide to adopt a 5.5% annual increase over ten years. That’s part of a plan it’s looking at, to make water and sewer operations financially self-sustaining, and not subsidized by city hall.