Water and Sewer

NOTICE: Springwater waives penalties and interest for property tax and water/wastewater payments coming due

During a Special Council Meeting on March 25, Springwater Council voted in favour of providing relief to residents and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the waiving of penalties and interest for property tax and water/wastewater payments coming due.

Council has authorized:

Penalties and interest not be applied on May 1 and June 1 for unpaid property taxes that are due April 22, 2020; and,
Penalties and interest not be applied on April 1, May 1 and June 1 for water/wastewater bills that are due between March 31 and May 31, 2020; and,
NSF charges be waived for payments that are returned from April 1 to May 31, 2020; and,
Residents be able to temporarily withdraw from pre-authorized debit plans without penalty from March 26 to May 31, 2020.

Anyone who wishes to temporarily withdraw from pre-authorized debit plans or cancel a post-date cheque, must do so in writing by emailing taxes@springwater.ca. Anyone who does not have access to e-mail is asked to please call 705-728-4784 Ext. 2024.

Anyone who is in the position to make payments is able to do so online through My Springwater, at most financial institutions and through some third-party providers. Cheques may also be left in the drop box located at the Township Administration Centre.

The Township of Springwater regulates municipal water and wastewater systems and rates through our Water By-law and Wastewater By-law. We issue water and wastewater bills on a quarterly basis for residential accounts and monthly for multi-residential and commercial accounts.

Meter readings

Our contractor, Wamco Waterworks, reads residential water meters four times per year in early May, August, November and February in Anten Mills, Midhurst, Centre Vespra, Snow Valley and a portion of Hillsdale and Phelpston that have new meters. The February billing for all remaining areas will be estimated based on your average usage over the prior two years. The Township reads water meters for commercial properties and apartment buildings monthly.

Payment and account changes

You must pay your water or wastewater bill by the due date. A late payment charge applies to all past due bills at a rate of 1.25% each month. Failure to pay your bill may result in the disconnection of water.

We now accept payment by credit card through the third-party Paytm platform (convenience fee applies). No need to create an account. Learn more.

Payment options

Pay your bill in any of the following ways:

Through your My Springwater account
Through a pre-authorized debit (PAD) plan
By credit card through the third-party Paytm platform (convenience fee applies)
By mail to the municipal office (cheques only)
In person during operating hours by credit up to $500, cash, cheque and debit (after-hours drop box available)
At your bank:
- Telebanking (requires 8-digit account number)
- Internet banking (requires 8-digit account number)
- Direct payment (provide your bill)

Change of address

To change your mailing address, please submit a completed Change of Address form by email to the Finance Department or by fax at 705-728-2759.

Electronic billing

Receive paperless billing notifications
View the balance of your property tax and water/wastewater accounts
Make payments online

Learn how to register on our Online Payments page.

Tenants

If you'd like your tenant to receive the water/wastewater bill, please submit a completed Tenant Mailing Application by email to the Finance Department or by fax at 705-728-2759.

Rates and service fees

User charges fund the operating and capital costs of municipal water and wastewater systems.

Water rates

Effective February 1, 2019.

Fixed rates

Residential and multi-residential buildings: $18.48 per meter per month
Commercial buildings: $30.81 per meter per month

Consumption charges

We base the water consumption charge off of usage during the previous three-month period for residential buildings and one-month period for multi-residential and commercial buildings.

Usage	Rate
0 to 15 m³/unit	$1.695 per m³/month
16 to 30 m³/unit	$1.778 per m³/month
31 to 45 m³/unit	$2.224 per m³/month
Over 45 m³/unit	$3.113 per m³/month

Wastewater rates

Effective February 1, 2019.

Fixed rates

Residential and multi-residential buildings: $33.08 per meter per month
Commercial buildings: $41.35 per meter per month

Consumption charges

We base the wastewater consumption charge off of usage during the previous three-month period for residential buildings and one-month period for multi-residential and commercial buildings. The constant consumption rate is $2.331 per m³/month and will not increase with use.

Service fees

The below service fees may apply:

Backflow preventer – $25 each
Connection fee – $75 per property
Residential meter – $530 each
Commercial or multi-residential meter – as per cost to the Township
Disconnection or reconnection – $50 per occurrence
Pressure reducing valve – $97

Background study

The current Water and Wastewater Rate Study forms our utility rates. The study delivers a long-term water and wastewater financial recovery plan to fund:

Current and future operations
Growth related capital expansion
Rehabilitation and eventual replacement of existing systems

Necessary adjustments to the utility rates are required to cover these costs. Consultants provide an updated study every few years.

Water conservation

High consumption within a household can be the result of:

Leaking or malfunctioning taps and appliances, such as toilets, dishwashers, showerheads, and lawn sprinklers
Issues with a pool or hot tub
More people in the home, which increases water usage