Water/wastewater rates for 2021
Starting on January 1, 2021, new water and wastewater rates come into effect. A new rate schedule for 2021-2024 was set in 2020.
Water and wastewater rates vary depending on where you live and the system needs of your community.
Select your water system from the drop down below to learn more about your water rates.
Scroll down to use the water/wastewater bill calculator to find out how much your monthly bill should be.
How rates are set
The County worked with Hemson Consulting Ltd. to set water and wastewater rates for 2021 - 2024. Public consultation on the rates took place in the summer of 2020 through news media, social media, website posting, and the Speak Up, Oxford! online portal. Staff also reached out to stakeholder groups including the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors and local Chambers of Commerce via direct mailings.
The water and wastewater rates vary by community. Oxford County provides municipal water services to 21 communities, 11 of those also have municipal wastewater services. All of the wastewater systems and three urban water systems are maintained as independent financial systems, while the township water systems are grouped into one financial system to achieve economies of scale.
The figure below illustrates the general methodology used in determining the full cost recovery water and wastewater rate forecast. The rates were calculated on a full/lifecycle cost basis including financing of operations, capital and reserves.
Water and wastewater rates are set every four years to cover operating costs as well as future capital investment that ensures the systems run safely, efficiently and sustainably into the future. Both water and wastewater rates are calculated based on a customer's water consumption.
Other County Program Fees
Source Water Protection Program
There are four Source Protection Plans (SPPs) applicable to Oxford County that have been under development by local Conservation Authorities and County staff since 2006. In order to support the program activities within these plans, incentives for implementing best management practices; retention of experts to assist with risk management plans; administration; and, where necessary, purchase of highly vulnerable lands, requires funding.
To fund this program, a Source Water Protection monthly charge was billed to every water customer at a rate of $0.03/m3, with a minimum charge of $1.20 per month. As part of the program a review was undertaken and this charge will cease January 1, 2021.
Community Servicing Assistance Program (CSAP)
Starting April 1, 2017, the monthly Community Servicing Assistance Program (CSAP) fee has been suspended. The CSAP fee was developed to provide financial assistance to existing landowners where municipal water and sewers have been extended to replace private water and wastewater systems.
Existing customers were charged $10.00 per-water service and $10.00 per wastewater service per year.
While CSAP assistance funding remains available on approved projects, until the reserve balance is fully depleted, the charge has been suspended from water and wastewater bills.
Rates & By-laws
Follow the links below to view current by-laws related to water and sewer rates and usage.
For more information, view the Sewer Use By-law Enforcement page.
New Construction Water Charges
The charge for construction water will be based upon the lateral pipe size leading to the property, and include an assumption of 15m3 of consumption per month.
Construction water charges will begin after an approved property line inspection. Once the property has a water meter and ERT installed, the charges will be changed to the metered charges for water and wastewater. Billing information is to be provided to the County when scheduling a property line inspection.
This charge will be effective for all properties under construction whose property line inspection occurs after January 1, 2021.