Rate increases to pay for decades of upgrades to Edmonton's sewer system were approved by city council's utilities committee on Friday. Councillors also set the rate plan in motion for Blatchford's development.

Friday Sept 1. is day one of the transfer of the city's drainage assets to EPCOR.

The deal would be worth more than $1 billion in assets, and would relieve the city of more than $600 million in debt that's self liquidating through monthly fees on residents' utility bill.