Water Rates & Regulations Bylaw No. 37, 2010 (consolidated Dec 24, 2018)
Northern Rockies, British Columbia
· No. 37
· adopted 2010-10-18
· summary & facts
This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot 192e86d1a870 · verified 2026-10-18 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
NORTHERN ROCKIES REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
Water Rates & Regulations Bylaw No. 37, 2010
Consolidated December 24, 2018 for ease of public use
This document is an office consolidation of this bylaw, and is intended for information and
reference purposes only. This document is not the official version of the bylaw. Please consult
the Corporate Manager where accuracy is critical, or if you find any errors or omissions in this
consolidation.
Consolidated version includes and is amended by:
Water Rates & Regulations Amendment Bylaw No. 163, 2018
Northern Rockies Regional Municipality
Water Rates & Regulations Bylaw No. 37, 2010
A bylaw of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to regulate the use, operation,
connections and charges for use of the water utility.
WHEREAS pursuant to the Community Charter a local government may regulate,
prohibit and impose requirements and fees with respect to municipal services;
AND WHEREAS, the municipality has established a system of supply and distribution of
water;
NOW THEREFORE, the Regional Council for the Northern Rockies Regional
Municipality, in open meeting assembled, hereby enacts as follows:
1.
Citation
(1)
This bylaw may be cited as "The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Water
Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 37, 2010."
2.
Interpretation
(1)
In this bylaw the following definitions shall apply:
{"Commercial User" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
"Commercial User" - any customer of the Community Water System on a Property
that is zoned as Commercial, and any customer of the Community Water System on a
Property zoned as Residential or Agriculture under the Northern Rockies Regional
Municipality Zoning Bylaw, that is determined by the Director to be used for business
purposes that may reasonably be expected to use more water than a typical Residential
User;
"Council" - the elected Regional Council of the Northern Rockies Regional
Municipality;
"Director" - the person as may be appointed as the Director of Public Works by the
Regional Council from time to time;
"Municipality" - the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality;
{"Industrial User" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
"Industrial User" - any customer of the water utility on a Property zoned as industrial
under the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Zoning Bylaw;
"Institutional, Commercial, Industrial (ICI)" - Meters shall be installed on the
following properties: each grocery, meat market, bakery or retail food store, business
office, hardware, dry goods, shoe, dental, florist, gift, variety, furniture, drug or
confectionary store, hotel, motel, cabin or self-contained room, bus depot, service
station, garage, car wash, police office and/or barracks public beverage room, café,
restaurant or dining room, school, community college, laundry and drycleaner, hospital,
hairdresser, barber shop or beauty parlour, pool hall or bowling alley, community, dance
or banquet hall, and concrete plant;
{"Institutional User" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
"Institutional User" - any customer of the water utility on a Property zoned as
institutional under the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Zoning Bylaw;
{"Multi-Family Residential User" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163,
2018}
"Multi-Family Residential User" - any Residential User of the water utility on a
Property with more than two residential units;
{"Owner" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
"Owner" - the Person or Persons registered with the Land Titles Office of British
Columbia as owner in fee simple of a Property, or that Person's authorized agent;
{"Person" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
"Person" - any individual, partnership, firm, company or corporation;
{"Property" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
"Property" - real property which has a legal description registered with the Land Titles
Office of British Columbia, including any building or other part thereof;
"Residential" - Residential rates are applicable to residences and home based
businesses located on lots zoned as Residential;
{"Residential User" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
Residential User" - any customer of the water utility on Property zoned as Residential
or Agriculture under the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Zoning Bylaw, except
where the Property is determined by the Director to be used for business purposes that
may reasonably be expected to use more water than a typical Residential User;
{"Service" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
"Service" - the supply of water from the water utility through a Service Connection to a
customer's Property, or the provision of Bulk Water at a dedicated facility for trucked
delivery to a bulk water customer;
{"Service Connection" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
"Service Connection" - a pipe and any other appurtenances necessary to, and
actually used to, connect the Community Water System to the property line of any
parcel of land for the provision and supply of water;
"Water Connection" - the pipe extending from the common water main to the
property line of any parcel of land;
{"Water Meter" definition is added to section 2(1) by Bylaw 163, 2018}
"Water Meter" - a device owned or authorized by the Municipality to measure the
volume of water that passes through the device for Municipal revenue purposes, and
includes remote reading accessories where provided;
"Water Service" - the system of pipes, pumps, pressure reducing stations, etc. used
for the provision and supply of water;
"Water Utility" - the system of pipes, pumps, pressure reducing stations, etc. used for
the provision and supply of water.
3.
Regulations Governing Connections to the Water Utility
(1)
No property owner or other person shall install any water service or water
connection by any means to the water utility except in compliance with the
provisions of this section and any other governing regulations as may be
established by Municipal bylaw.
(a)
A property owner shall make application in writing for a water connection
and for permission to install his or her water service and shall pay at the
time of application the respective connection fee, or in the case where
actual cost is used, the Director estimate of such costs, the balance to be
billed or returned following completion of the work, as shown on Schedule
"A", attached to and forming part of this bylaw.
(b)
Municipal work forces shall install the water connection to the property
line, unless otherwise approved by the Director.
(c)
Installation of the water service is the responsibility of the property owner;
however, it shall be installed in compliance with the following regulations:
(i)
the type and size of pipe shall be approved by the Director;
(ii)
all water services shall be buried below the frost line (108") and
shall be adequately frost-protected to the satisfaction of the
Director;
(iii)
when the water service pipe has been installed, but before the
excavation is backfilled, the Director shall be notified and shall
inspect the installation within 48hours.
(iv)
it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to supply, install
and maintain the connection or joint at the property line between
the water service and the water connection, and the connection or
joint shall be of an approved flange, or flare-type fitting;
(v)
no soldered joints below ground shall be permitted.
{Section 3(2) is added by Bylaw 163, 2018}
(2)
All Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Properties that have a Service
Connection shall have a Water Meter, except as authorized by the Director.
{Section 3(3) is added by Bylaw 163, 2018}
(3)
Where the Director deems a customer that is located on a Property in a
Residential or Agricultural zone to be operating for business purposes that may
reasonably be expected to use more water than a typical Residential User, a
Water Meter shall be installed on the customer's connection at the customer's
cost.
{Section 3(4) is added by Bylaw 163, 2018}
(4)
At the time of construction or renovation of premises on a Commercial, Industrial,
Institutional or Multi-Family Residential Property:
(i)
A Water Meter must be installed at the Owner's expense, and in
accordance with this Bylaw and the Northern Rockies Regional
Municipality Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw; and
(ii)
Notwithstanding (i), a Water Meter is not required for a Water Service
Connection that is designed and used for the sole purpose of standby fire
protection and has no physical interconnection on the Owner's Property
with a water system used for any other purpose.
{Section 3(5) is added by Bylaw 163, 2018}
(5)
A Service Connection used for the sole purpose of irrigation shall have a Water
Meter, except as authorized by the Director.
{Section 3(6) is added by Bylaw 163, 2018}
(6)
Any Owner of an unmetered Multi-Family Residential Property may apply to the
Director for the installation of a Water Meter, accompanied by the applicable fees
and charges as prescribed in Schedule "A" of this Bylaw.
{Section 3(7) is added by Bylaw 163, 2018}
(7)
The Director may:
(i)
Determine the location of the Water Meter installation;
(ii)
Determine the type and size of the Water Meter to be installed; and
(iii)
Require a Water Meter to be relocated.
4.
Regulations Governing Repairs to Water Connections and Water Services
(1)
In the event of leakage, freezing or other condition which causes the interruption
of water supply, repairs necessary to the water service shall be the responsibility
of the property owner and repairs to the water connection shall be the
responsibility of the utility. In cases of dispute as to the location of the leakage,
freezing or cause of interruption, where practicably possible, both parties shall be
present when necessary excavations and repairs are being undertaken in order
that responsibility for repair costs can be determined on the site when the
exposed pipe can be inspected.
(2)
Property owners are responsible for any damages and resulting repair costs for
any corporation cock servicing their property.
5.
Regulations Governing the Use and Control of the Water Utility
(1)
No personal shall destroy, injure or tamper with any hydrant, valve, pipe, pump or
other fixture of the water utility and no person shall in any manner make any
additions, alterations or other changes to the water utility.
(2)
No person shall turn off or turn on any main valve, corporation cock or gate
valve, or open any hydrant, standpipe or valve, or use any water therefrom
without the approval of the Director; excepting members of the Municipal Fire
Department.
(3)
The Director shall have authority to authorize temporary connections to the water
system for use of water under such conditions as the Director sees fit and at
such rate as is specified in Schedule "B" to the bylaw.
(4)
No person shall obstruct at any time or in any manner the access to any hydrant,
valve, corporation cock or other fixture connected with the utility, and should any
person obstruct such access the Director may personally or by order remove
such obstruction at the expense of the person or property owner involved.
(5)
Nothing contained in this bylaw shall be construed to impose any liability or
responsibility on the Municipality to service any person or premises, or to give or
provide a continuous supply of water to any person or premises.
(6)
The Municipality shall not be liable for the failure of the water supply in
consequence of any accident or damage to the works or excessive pressure or
lack of pressure, or any temporary stoppage thereof on account of alterations or
repairs, whether such failure arises from the negligence of any person in the
employ of the Municipality or other persons whomsoever, or through natural
deterioration or obsolescence of the Municipality's system or otherwise, but in the
event of such failure or stoppage continuing for more than 5 consecutive days,
an equitable reduction shall be made on all rates or services affected.
(7)
The Municipality may, without notice, disconnect the water service to any
premises for any of the following reasons, and the Municipality shall not be liable
for damages by reason of discontinuing water service for such reasons:
(i)
unnecessary or wasteful use of water, or violation of regulations
concerning watering or sprinkling;
(ii)
non-payment of rates;
(iii)
failure to replace or repair defective pipes, fittings, valves, tanks or
appliances which are leaking or are otherwise not in a good state of repair
and which are or may become a cause of waste or water;
(iv)
for repairs;
(v)
for want of supplies;
(vi)
for employing any pump, booster or other device for the purpose of, or
having the effect of, increasing water pressure in service lines, without first
obtaining the approval of the Municipality;
(vii)
for violation of any of the provisions of this bylaw.
(8)
Every property owner shall provide for each service to their premises a pressure-
reducing valve in the event the water pressure in the main serving their premises
shall be or become so great as may cause damages.
(9)
The Council may by resolution, at its discretion and whenever the public interest
so requires, suspend or limit the consumption of water from the municipal water
system, or may regulate the hours or use, or may further prescribe the manner in
which such water may be used.
6.
Regulations Governing Rates and Payment of Rates
(1)
There is hereby imposed and levied a water user rate against the owner of real
property which is connected to and serviced by the water utility.
(2)
Real property shall be classified in accordance with the categories set out in
Schedule "B", which is attached to and forms part of this bylaw, and each owner
of real property is liable for the applicable rate.
(3)
The user rate shall be due and payable quarterly and a 10% penalty shall be
added at the end of the quarter for non-payment. Any rates unpaid on the 31st
day of December of any year shall be deemed to be taxes in arrears in respect of
the property and shall be entered on the real property tax roll as taxes in arrears.
(4)
The rate for water turn on or water turn off caused or requested by a property
owner or consumer shall be $25.00
{Section 6(5) is added by Bylaw 163, 2018}
(5)
Where the Director deems a customer that is located on a Property in a
Residential or Agricultural zone to be operating for business purposes that may
reasonably be expected to use more water than a typical Residential User,
Commercial rates will apply for Service to that customer.
7.
Entry onto Land
{Section 7(1) is amended by Bylaw 163, 2018}
(1)
The Director, and all employees or appointees of the Municipality who are
authorized by the Director to do so, may enter at all reasonable times upon any
Property, for the purpose of installing, inspecting, maintaining, repairing,
removing, and replacing components required for the operation of the Water
Utility, and to ascertain whether the requirements of this Bylaw are being
observed.
8.
Offences
(1)
Any person who violates any provision of this bylaw is liable on summary
conviction to a penalty not exceeding $500 plus the costs of prosecution, and
each day during which such violation is continued shall be deemed to constitute
a new and separate violation.
9.
Severability
(1)
If any division, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this bylaw is for
any reason held to be invalid by the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction,
such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the bylaw.
(2)
Nothing in this Bylaw relieves a person from complying with any provision of any
federal or provincial law or regulation, other bylaw or any requirement of any
lawful permit, order or license.
10.
Repeals
(1)
The following bylaws and any amendments thereto are hereby repealed in their
entirety:
(i)
The Town Water Rates & Regulations Bylaw No. 503, 1995
(ii)
The North-West Water Service Area Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 76,
1995
READ a first time this 4th day of October, 2010
READ a second time this 4th day of October, 2010
READ a third time this 4th day of October, 2010
Adopted this 18th day of October, 2010
Original signed by:
Original signed by:
Bill Streeper, Mayor
Heather Cosman, Corporate Manager
SCHEDULE "A"
Connection Charges
To defray the cost of water connections, all owners of land upon which are situated
buildings or structures shall be subject to a water connection charge.
(1)
Where water connection and water service already exist for the property, the cost
shall be: $100
(2)
In all other cases and subject to Section 3 of Schedule A, the cost shall be: the
actual cost of installing the water connection and the water service.
(3)
(a)
Where a person provides any part of the water utility to serve land other
than the land developed or subdivided by that person, whether or not
required by the Municipality to provide that part of the water utility, that
person must be reimbursed by the Municipality for the cost of the provision
of that part of the water utility, when another person applies for water
connection or water service to the land to be serviced by that part of the
water utility.
(b)
A person connecting to any part of a water utility provided under
subsection 3(a) shall pay a proportionate share of the cost of the provision
of that portion of the water utility, which share shall be calculated when
application for water connection is made.
(c)
The determination of the proportionate share of cost to be charged under
subsection 3 (b) shall be made by the Director, or their designate.
(d)
In making such determination, the Director shall take into account:
(i)
the proportion of the cost of providing that part of the water utility
servicing the property for which an application for water connection
is made; and,
(ii)
the extent to which the land which is the subject of the application
for water connection will benefit from the part of the water utility.
(e)
Charges payable under subsection 3(b) shall be collected for a period of 5
years, commencing on the date that water connection to the water utility is
completed.
(4)
All unpaid charges owing to the Municipality under this Schedule shall be
collected as all other charges under this bylaw and shall be subject to interest at
the rate of 10% per annum calculated from the date the water connection to the
water utility is completed.
{Section (5) is added to "Schedule A" by Bylaw 163, 2018}
(5)
The Charge for installation of a Water Meter is the actual expense incurred by
the Municipality for procurement and installation, including administration
expense.
{"Schedule B" is amended by Bylaw 163, 2018}
SCHEDULE "B"
Water Use Rates
Water supplied from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality water treatment plant
shall be charged for as set out below. Property shall be classified into the applicable
following categories and the property-owner shall pay the respective rates for each
quarter or metering period.
Water Rate Classification
1. Residential
Residential Rate 1: For each unmetered single-
family dwelling, trailer or apartment unit; and,
For each sleeping unit in an unmetered Bed &
Breakfast
Residential Rate 2: For each metered Service
Connection
2. Industrial, Commercial and Institutional
ICI Rate 3
0 to 300m3/quarter
ICI Rate 4
>300 to 4,100m3/quarter
ICI Rate 5
>4,100 to 11,400m3/quarter
ICI Rate 6
>11,400 to 22,200m3/quarter
ICI Rate 7
>22,000 to 36,500m3/quarter
ICI Rate 8
> 36,500m3/quarter
3 Fort Nelson First Nation
Cost/QTR
$85.00
$28.33
Minimum charge
$30/quarter
Minimum charge
$30/quarter
$NA
$NA
$NA
$NA
$NA
$NA
Cost/m3
$NA
$NA
$0.92
$0.92
$1.38
$2.07
$3.11
$4.66
$6.60
$0.92
4 Bulk Water Tanker- from bulk water station
Oct 1/10 Sept 1/11 Sept 1/12 Sept 1/13 Sept 1/14
Commercial haulers Cost/m3
$6.93
$7.28
$7.64
$8.02
$8.42
Residential haulers
Cost/m3
$0.92
$0.92
$0.92
$0.92
$0.92
NRRM Water Rates & Regulations Bylaw No. 37, 2010
Page 12 of 13