Water and Wastewater Services

View our Water and Sewer Rates By-law for more information on rates, fees and charges associated with water and sewer services in the Township.

Our Water and Wastewater Rate Study provides an analysis of current capital and operating forecasts, lifecycle cost requirements and customer profiles. It provides updated flat rates to customers and provides fiscally responsible practices that are in line with current provincial legislation at a level of rate increases that are reasonable.

Our utility bill due dates include:

• First quarter: Last day in March
• Second quarter: Last day in June
• Third quarter: Last day in September
• Fourth quarter: Last day in December

If you are late to pay your bill or default on payment, we apply a 1.25 per cent interest rate against your outstanding amount due and owing for the quarter, or any prior quarters that payment has not been made.

If your account remains unpaid for 90 days, we notify you (or the property owner) and/or your tenant(s), by mail, that your municipal water supply may be discontinued. A $25 flat rate is applied to your account for the cost of sending the notice through the mail.

If we incur additional fees and charges through the billing collection process, we apply those charges to your outstanding balance due and owing.

Discontinued water service due to non-payment

If your water service has been discontinued due to non-payment, the service will not be reinstated until the account, including the disconnection and reconnection fees ($100 each), are paid in full.

If you own a property and you provide daily rental services of units and/or rooms, you are required to remit payment, per unit, at the daily residential water and sewer rate prescribed in our by-law. This amount is in addition to the base annual rate already invoiced to you, as the homeowner, for the provision of basic services.

The Township is responsible for:

• All main water lines
• Copper service line running from the main line to the curb stop valve
• Curb stop and brass fitting on either side of the curb stop valve

The property owner is responsible for:

• Copper service line running from the curb stop valve to the residence
• All interior water lines

If you suspect a water main leak or break on Township-owned water lines, please contact us immediately at 807-868-2020 x0. If it is after business hours, please contact our water and wastewater treatment plant personnel for emergencies at 807-868-2380 (business line) or 807-228-3580 (cell).

If you suspect a water leak in your home or on your property, you will have to make your own arrangement for repair as Township and OCWA staff do not perform work on private property.

Any blockage or break of a sewer line from the homeowner's property to the sewer main is the responsibility of the homeowner, unless it is proven that the blockage resulted from a problem with the Township's sewer line. In this case, it is the Township's responsibility to repair.

If you suspect a sewer break, please contact us immediately at 807-868-2020 x0. If it is after business hours, please contact our water and wastewater treatment plant personnel for emergencies at 807-868-2380 (business line) or 807-228-3580 (cell).

OCWA staff will investigate the break through visual inspection and testing, if applicable. If the sewer main does not appear to be damaged, you will need to make your own arrangements to repair the issue as staff do not perform work on private property.

If you discover a plugged culvert, ditch or catch basin, please contact us using our online form or by phone at 807-868-2212 or 807-229-6999 (after hours).