The RM of Victoria Council has approved a 10% increase for water rates in Holland and Cypress River, but haven't been able to give second and third reading to the by-law because it's still before the Public Utilities Board.

Reeve Harold Purkess says it puts the municipality in an unfortunate situation.

"If we run into a deficit situation with the utility, by operating still on the old rates, then they force us to put on what they call a rate rider. And it increases the water rates by a specific amount for a length of time to recover that deficit. And we already have two rate riders on now, and we wouldn't want to add another one."

Purkess says so far, there's no word on when the PUB might make a decision.

"We haven't heard anything. I think there's been some change of staff since the change of government, and that always seems to slow things down considerably for a while."

Purkess stresses at the moment, the municipality's in good shape, but with winter coming, that could change.

"What can get us in trouble is water main breaks, especially in winter. It costs more to get them repaired, but we're quite fortunate up to the end of last winter, and this summer. We've had very, very few, and maintenance costs are down from what they were a year ago, so we're going be okay for this year again, I'm sure."