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The Corporation of the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio
By-law 2024-076
(Consolidated - as amended)
WATER RATES BY-LAW
A By-law to Impose Wastewater Rates and to Prescribe the Amount of Such
Rates and to Control Discharges to Municipal Wastewaters
Consolidation
Amendment No. 1
By-law 2025-054
November 12, 2025
Disclaimer:
The following consolidation is an electronic reproduction made available for information only.
It is not an official version of the By-law. The format may be different, and plans, pictures,
other graphics or text may be missing or altered. The Township of Adjala-Tosorontio does
not warrant the accuracy of this electronic version.
This consolidation cannot be distributed or used for commercial purposes. It may be used
for other purposes, only if you repeat this disclaimer. Official versions of all By-laws can be
obtained from the Township Clerk's Department 705-434-5055.
The Corporation of The Township of Adjala-Tosorontio
By-Law No. 2024-076
A By-law to establish and fix the rates or charges for supplying water to
users from the Municipal Water Works Systems and to establish procedures
for the collection of water accounts, and to repeal By-law 2024-025
WHEREAS Section 391 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, as
amended, allows municipalities to pass By-laws imposing fees or charges for
services, activities, costs and uses of property of the municipality;
AND WHEREAS Section 80 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, provides
that a municipality may enter onto land to which it supplies a public utility to
inspect, repair, alter or disconnect the service pipe or wire, machinery, equipment
and other works used to supply the public utility;
AND WHEREAS section 398 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, as
amended, prescribe that fees and charges imposed by a municipality on a
person constitute a debt of the person to the municipality;
AND WHEREAS section 398 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, as
amended, allows the Treasurer of the municipality to add fees and charges
imposed by the municipality to the tax roll and collect them in the same manner
as municipal taxes in certain cases;
AND WHEREAS the Corporation of the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio deems it
necessary and desirable to establish water rates for the purposes of maintaining
and servicing the Municipal Water Works Systems and to establish procedures
for the collection of water accounts;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of Township of Adjala-Tosorontio hereby
ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
SHORT TITLE
This By-law shall be known as the Water Rates By-law.
1.
Billing
(a)
THAT the water rates shall be billed on four (4) billings per year for the
Water Works Systems due on a date to be determined by the
Treasurer for all Water Works Systems in the Municipality;
(b)
THAT should a water payment not be received by the due date; the
Township shall charge a penalty of five per cent (5%) on accounts not
paid by the due date;
OFFICE CONSOLIDATION Current to
Amendment No. 1
By-law 2025-054, November 12, 2025
(c)
THAT the assessed owner be billed for the water supplied and that the
assessed owner is responsible for payment of the bill;
(d)
THAT all fees and charges relating to supplying water to users from
the Municipal Water Works System should follow Schedule A and the
Township's Fees and Charges By-law as applicable.
2.
Rates
(a)
THAT where a water meter has been installed the water rate for each
and every cubic metre of water supplied shall be in accordance with
water rates set out in Schedule A.
(b)
THAT where a water meter has been installed a fixed base rate as set
in Schedule A, shall be billed on a quarterly basis.
(c)
THAT buildings with multiple unit dwellings without water meters shall
be charged the Non-metered Monthly Water Fee as per the
Township's Fees and Charges By-law for a single residential dwelling
unit multiplied by the number of dwelling units in the building.
(d)
THAT any school which does not have a meter shall be charged in
accordance with the following formula:
Current School Population X Current Rate per Cu. M X Rate of 0.08 Cu. M
per Student X # of School Days per Year
3.
Water Meters
(a)
THAT where water meters have been installed, the consumption of
water as indicated by the water meter for that billing period shall be
taken into account, the water rate to be charged;
(b)
THAT the water meter body and its meter package components remain
the property of the Township. All other components i.e. service lines,
piping, building system plumbing, and/or valves connected before or
after the meter from the property line into the building must be
approved by the Municipality prior to installation and will remain the
property of the owner;
(c)
THAT the registered owner of the property shall maintain easy access
to the meter and its components for replacement, repair or inspection
as required;
(d)
THAT where an installed water meter or any of its components has
been found inoperative, unavailable or inaccessible at the time of the
meter reading, due notice shall be given to the registered owner to
provide the Township with the actual meter reading within one week
and to have the meter and its components repaired and inspected by
the Municipality within one month from the date of notice;
(e)
THAT upon inspection the water meter seal is proven to be broken or
tampered with and a search of water consumption history proves that
there has been a deviation in usage, the owner is subject to a fine
under section 10 of this By-law;
(f)
THAT if any water meter or water system component repairs are
necessary due to negligence or fault of the resident, the cost of repairs
or replacement of the water meter or water system component shall be
recoverable against the registered owner;
(g)
THAT failure to have the meter and/or its components repaired and
inspected within one month from notice shall cause the non-metered
monthly water rate to be levied as per the Fees and Charges Bylaw, as
amended, per month or fraction thereof for each and every month from
the date of notice until the meter is repaired and inspected;
(h)
THAT failure to have the meter and its components accessible for
repair, replacement or inspection shall be deemed to be failure to have
the meter repaired;
(i)
THAT where the water meter is equipped with a remote read-out unit
of any type and a discrepancy occurs between the reading at the
register of the water meter itself and the reading on the readout device,
the reading at the meter shall be deemed to be correct, and the Town
will adjust and correct the customer's account accordingly.
(j)
THAT a residential inspection shall be required if the water
consumption reading is less than thirty (30) cubic meters per billing
period;
(k)
THAT failure to arrange a residential inspection within fifteen (15) days
from notice shall cause the non-metered monthly water rate as set out
in the Township's Fee and Charges Bylaw as amended, or fraction
thereof for each and every month from the date of notice until an
inspection has been completed;
(l)
THAT the registered owner shall be responsible for payment of the
water rate charged until the test results are received for the water
meter calibration;
(m)
THAT multiple unit buildings shall be served by only one water meter
for the purposes of billing by the Township;
(n)
THAT all new connections to municipal water supplies be connected
with water meters;
(o)
THAT no water service shall be disconnected without the prior
approval of the Municipality;
(p)
THAT no water meter shall be removed, bypassed or rendered
inoperable save and except for the repair and/or testing of the water
meter by the Township;
(q)
THAT no water meter seal shall be removed and/or tampered with
save and except for the repair and/or replacement of the seal and/or
meter by the Township;
(r)
THAT the Township shall assume ownership and maintenance for all
water meters installed to the satisfaction of the Township. If a meter is
mechanically defective, the cost of meter repairs shall be borne by the
Township. If the meter is damaged by freezing, the carelessness,
willful act, or neglect of any person other than an employee or agent of
the Town, the owner shall pay to the Township the cost of making a
necessary repair or replacement to such meter, following the
Township's Fees and Charges All such costs may be paid directly to
the Township, or if not so paid, added to the water bill.
(s)
THAT if, in the opinion of the Town, the condition of the water service
pipe and/or valves and of the plumbing system is such that the meter
cannot be safely removed for the purpose of testing, replacing,
repairing or testing in place without fear of damage to the water service
pipe and valves, the Town may require the owner or occupant to make
such repairs as may be deemed necessary to facilitate the removal or
testing of the meter. If, upon notification, the owner does not comply
with the Town's request, then the water supply to the property may be
turned off at the shut-off valve during removal, replacement, repair and
testing of the meter and the Town shall not be held responsible for any
damages to the owner's property arising from such work.
4.
Fire Hydrants
(a)
THAT no person other than a person authorized by the Township of
Adjala-Tosorontio shall be permitted to open or otherwise interfere with
or operate or take water from any fire hydrant;
5.
Cross Connections
(a)
THAT no person shall connect, cause to be connected or allow to
remain connected to the waterworks distribution system or home
plumbing system any piping, fixture, container or appliance in a
manner which under any circumstances may allow water, wastewater,
non-potable water or any other liquid, chemical or substance to enter
the water works distribution system and that every home served by
Municipal water supply be served by no other supply of water without
the consent of the municipality;
6.
New Connections
(a)
THAT any new connection to the Municipal Water Systems must be
approved and water supply allocated by resolution of Council;
(b)
THAT the owner or their agent shall apply to the Township for water
and/or sewer service before the service is installed, shall pay for it at
the rates as set out in in the current Township's Fees and Charges By-
law. This is over and above the payment of all other appropriate
Township Charges including Development Charges.
(c)
THAT the installation of any new connection to the Municipal Water
Works Systems shall be under the supervision of the Director of
Infrastructure and Development or designates;
(d)
THAT the costs including a ten percent administration fee incurred by
the Municipality for supervising or assisting in the placement,
installation or repair of new watermains or appurtenances/metering
equipment shall be recoverable against the registered owner of the
lands on which said work is being done;
(e)
THAT the Service Connection Fee for any new connection to connect
initially to the Municipal Water Works Systems shall be levied the fee
as per the Township's Fee and Charges Bylaw, plus any expense in
excess of the aforementioned fee. This fee will increase annually by
2.4%;
(f)
Installation - by Town - by contractor
THAT all water and sewer service pipes shall be installed by the
Township or by Township authorized contractors engaged by the
owner for the purposes of such installation, except in new land
development projects where agreements with the Township require the
developer or subdivider to complete such work.
7. Installation - to Township specifications - Ontario Building Code
requirements
(a)
THAT all water and sewer service pipes and private mains located
within Township property shall be constructed according to the Town's
standards or as approved by the Town from time to time. All water
service pipes and private mains located on private property shall
be constructed in accordance with the Ontario Building Code as
revised from time to time and in accordance with good engineering
practices and shall be approved by the Chief Building Official or
designate. Every water service and sewer lateral shall be laid in a
straight line and at a right angle to a Main, as nearly as practicable. A
Water Service shall be installed to each Unit of semi-detached houses,
street townhouses and street link houses, unless the Director of
Development and Operations has approved an alternative form of
connection. Where the Ontario Building Code is silent the Town's
specifications shall be applied and shall prevail.
(b)
Connection to main-Private lands
THAT no water service to one Owner's building shall be installed in,
over or across the property of another person or located on an
easement on another Person's property, except by written consent, in
the form of an easement agreement, of the Persons concerned and the
approval of the Town. Alterations requiring repairs on private lands will
be the responsibility of the property owner.
8.
Additional Service Charges
(a)
THAT the service charge to open or close water services, after having
been connected initially, be levied as per the Fees and Charges Bylaw.
(b)
THAT charges for unmetered water used for construction shall be
levied in the amount set out in the Township's Fees and Service
Charge Bylaw and shall be payable by the consumer. The consumer
shall notify the Town as soon as it is practical for a water meter to be
installed, such as when plumbing has been inspected and passed.
During the time period when the water meter is installed until the
closing date only the flat rate shall apply until property is occupied or
sold to the New Owner, unless builder is also the Owner due to no sale
of property.
(c)
THAT the service charge to supply water on a "per occasion" basis
from a hydrant shall be levied in the amount set out in the Township's
Fees and Service Charge Bylaw plus the Meter rate per cubic metre
supplied as per Schedule A;
9.
Outstanding Accounts
(a)
THAT the Treasurer of the Township may direct that the residential
water service be disconnected that has a billing account in arrears for
ninety (90) days or more;
(b)
THAT the Treasurer of the Township may direct that the outstanding
water arrears be transferred to the tax roll for the property in the local
municipality and collect them in the same manner as municipal taxes.
(c)
THAT the Treasurer of the Township may direct that any penalties
incurred due to an administrative error be written off;
(d)
THAT prior to disconnecting the water service, due to the account
being in arrears, the Township shall make every reasonable attempt to
provide the assessed owner with notice of the Township's intention to
disconnect the water service;
(e)
THAT prior to the water service being reconnected, the assessed
owner shall pay to the Township, the total amount of the billing account
in arrears plus a reconnection charge as provided in the Township's
current Fees and Charges Bylaw, as amended, plus any additional
costs which may be incurred by the Township;
10.
Penalties
(a)
THAT any person who contravenes any provision of this By-law is
guilty of an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine as provided
for in the Provincial Offences Act and each day that a separate breach
of this By-law occurs shall constitute a separate offence;
11. Water use Regulation
(a)
THAT the Director of Infrastructure and Development or designates or
designate is authorized to implement at any time during the year any
other regulation which he, in his discretion, considers advisable to limit
the external use of water and this authority includes the right to ban
completely the external use of water.
(b)
THAT from time to time, due to repairs or new installation of water
main, water may be limited or unavailable until such repairs are made.
The Director of Infrastructure and Development or designates or
designate, will provide 48 hours notification of water loss.
12.
Severability
(a)
THAT should any section of this By-law be declared by a Court of
competent jurisdiction as ultra vires or illegal for any reason, the
remaining parts shall nevertheless remain valid and binding and shall
be read as if the offending section or part had been struck out;
(b)
THAT should the provisions of this By-law be found to conflict with the
provisions of any other By-law of the Township the provisions of this
By-law shall prevail;
(c)
THAT By-law 2024-025 is hereby repealed on the date that this By-law
comes into force and effect, and this By-law shall supersede any
corresponding by-laws of the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio which,
through inadvertence, may not have been repealed.
ENACTMENT
THAT the provisions of this By-law shall take full force and effect on January 1,
2025.
THAT notwithstanding anything contrary to the rules of procedure, this By-law be
introduced and read a first and second time and be considered read a third time
and finally passed this 11th day of December 2024.
Scott W. Anderson, Mayor
Robin Reid, Clerk
Office Consolidation
Schedule A to By-law 2024-076
Water Rates
Monthly Base
Rate
$8.89
Meter Rate (per
cubic meter)
$4.65