From The Columbian (here):

The increases will bring the average homeowner’s total bill up $3.46 a month, from $80.54 to $84.
Water rates will rise 5 percent; surface water 2.1 percent; and solid waste 1.5 percent. In 2010, the city council approved a 9 percent increase in sewer rates for 2012, along with a 6.5 percent increase this year.

The paper characterizes the huge increases as needed for “solvency.” Show of hands: Who knew the utilities were upside down? You didn’t? Yeah, that’s because they weren’t.  Sounds like Vancouverites had better find out what their “surface water” and that 9% increase in sewer rates are being used for.
As we’ve seen in Portland they’ve been used for bioswale/bike path, buildings, parks and other things.