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# Water and Utilities
Champlain provides reliable water and wastewater services to residents and businesses throughout the community. Electricity service is provided by **Hydro One**, while **Enbridge Gas** supplies natural gas services to the area.
### Utility & Tax Portal
Access your account anytime to view balances, check billing details, and make secure payments for property taxes and utilities.
### Understanding your Water and Sewer Bill
A detailed sample water utility bill containing information to help you understand your bill is available to download.
/media/file/understand-utility-bill [PDF/467KB]
### Billing & Payment Options
Find water billing dates, payment options, and answers to common questions about your utility account.
/resident-services/water-sewer#payment
### Pre-authorized payments
Sign up for pre-authorized payments on due date.
/resident-services/permits-licences-applications/pre-authorized-payment-plan-program-pap
### Before you Dig
Planning to dig? You need a locate first.
/resident-services/water-sewer#dig
### Water Meter & Shut-Off Valve
Learn where to find your water meter and main shut-off valve, why meter access is important, and what to do in case of a leak or emergency.
/resident-services/water-sewer#meter
### Water Service & Winter Maintenance
Property owners are responsible for maintaining plumbing and protecting water meters from freezing or damage.
/resident-services/water-sewer#ownership
---
## Before you Dig
Many subdivisions include side yard and rear yard drainage areas that may appear as shallow ditches or gentle slopes. These drainage features help manage stormwater and protect neighboring properties from flooding.
Property owners should not alter these areas without approval. If unauthorized changes are made, the Township may need to restore the drainage area and charge the property owner for associated repair costs.
Before changing the ground level on your property, such as adding or removing soil, contact the Township to ensure your project will not create drainage issues for surrounding properties.
**Planning to dig?** You need a locate first. Contact **Ontario One Call** for a free locate by calling 1-800-400-2255 or **book online**.
Request a locate
---
## Water Billing
Billing Periods and Due Dates
| Billing Period | Due Date |
| --- | --- |
| September 18 to December 17 | Between the 25th and the 29th of January |
| December 18 to March 18 | Between the 25th and the 29th of April |
| March 19 to June 17 | Between the 25th and the 29th of July |
| June 18 to September 16 | Between the 25th and the 29th of October |
### Payment Options
###
The pre-authorized payment program allows your water bill to be paid automatically on the due dates. The plan includes four payments per year, due in January, April, July, and October.
Each bill amount is calculated based on your water meter reading. The amount withdrawn will therefore match the total balance shown on your bill. Simple, secure, and convenient.
Pre-Authorized Payment Plan Application Form
###
To pay your water and sewer account through your financial institution, you must first register the Township of Champlain as a payee. To assist you with this process, we have provided a partial list of payee details for certain banking information.
Please note: Be sure to carefully select the correct payee when setting up your payment. There is a municipality in Quebec named Municipalité de Champlain, do not select this option. We are Canton de Champlain / Champlain Township. Selecting the wrong vendor could result in your payment being sent to the wrong account.
Financial Institution Payee Names for Utility Bill Payments
| Financial Institution | Supplier Name |
| --- | --- |
| CIBC | Champlain (Township) Utility |
| Desjardins | Corp. Township of Champlain - Water and Sewer |
| RBC | Champlain (TWP) - Water and Sewage |
| TD | Champlain (Township of) - Water and Sewer |
| BMO | Cant Champ Water |
| Scotiabank | Champlain (Twsp) - Water Sewer |
| Manulife | Champlain, Township - Water and Sewer |
| BNC | Corp. of Canton Of Champlain (Water and Sewer) |
###
Go to your financial institution with the detachable portion of your account and your payment.
###
* Leave your payment in the secure mailbox of the Town Hall **(cheque only)**.
* Visit us during our opening hours at the Town Hall **(cheque, cash, Interac - credit cards are not accepted).**
* Please present your tax bill when paying and retain your receipt as proof of payment.
* Post-dated cheques to the instalment date(s) are accepted at the municipal office. **The property roll number must be written on the back of all cheques.**
###
Enter the amount of your payment in the box provided for this purpose on the detachable portion of your bill and send it to:
*Champlain Township*
*948 Pleasant Corner East*
*Vankleek Hill, Ontario K0B 1R0*
Make cheques payable to "Champlain Township"
Please allow sufficient mailing time; your mailed payment must arrive in our office on or before the due date.
### Water Bill F.A.Q.
###
Water bills are issued every 3 months. In January, April, July and October.
###
Sign up to receive your bill by email in your tax/utility portal.
###
The minimum 2026 residential water and sewer bill is **$289.30** per residential unit for water consumption of **42 cubic metres or less**.
This amount includes:
* **Water charge:** $125.24
* **Sewer charge:** $164.06
Additional rates and fee information are available on our Charges & Fees page.
###
There are several possible reasons why your water bill may increase unexpectedly, including:
* Changes in your household, such as new tenants, new owners, additional residents, or visitors
* Running toilets, which are one of the most common causes of water leaks
* New appliances or systems that use water, such as:
+ Water-cooled air conditioners
+ Humidifiers
+ Dishwashers
+ Hot water tanks
+ Heating systems
+ Lawn sprinkler systems
* Plumbing problems or hidden leaks
* Spending more time at home
* Higher seasonal water use, especially during warmer months
**If you suspect a leak, check toilets, faucets, and outdoor taps first, as even a small leak can significantly increase water usage over time.**
###
If you are moving in or moving out, you should contact the municipality to update your water account information.
A **final water meter reading should be requested** to ensure accurate billing for both the current and new resident. This helps avoid billing issues and ensures charges are applied correctly based on actual water consumption.
---
## Water Meter and Main Shut-Off Valve
Every property owner should know **where their water meter and internal main water shut-off valve are located**. In the event of a leak or emergency, being able to locate these quickly can help reduce damage and prevent costly repairs.
### Meter Accessibility
Your water meter should be accessible to the Township so that it can be read. Water meters are the property of the Township of Champlain. We remind citizens that meters should never be moved or altered in any way. If you are renovating and the meter needs to be relocated, please contact the township's Building Department.
### Where to Look -- Basement Location
For most properties, the water meter is located in the basement, typically:
* along the front wall of the house
* close to the floor
* after the main water shut-off valve
It is often found near the hot water heater, water softener, or furnace.
## **Ownership and Maintenance Responsibilities**
Water meters are the property of the Township. However, property owners are responsible for:
* protecting the water meter from damage or freezing
* maintaining all interior plumbing
* including pipes, the incoming water service, and water shut-off valves
All plumbing components within the home are the responsibility of the homeowner.
Important Winter Maintenance Reminder
### Please ensure:
* clear and unobstructed access to the water meter at all times
* adequate heating in the area where the meter is located
Failure to protect the meter from freezing or damage may result in replacement costs charged to the property owner.
### Frozen Water Pipes
Due to ongoing cold temperatures, it is possible for poorly insulated or shallow water services to freeze. Champlain Township is reminding municipal water users to take voluntary measures to minimize the chances of experiencing frozen water pipes.
Did you know? As the weather gets milder, frost can potentially be driven deeper, putting your pipes at increased risk of freezing!
###
#### Contact a Plumber
Contact a licensed plumber with thawing equipment immediately. Residents are reminded that all underground water and sewer services on private property to the lot line are the responsibility of the property owner.
#### When to Call Champlain Township
If the plumber onsite is unable to thaw your water service with their equipment, you can contact the Township to determine the next course of action. Call the Public Works Department during regular business hours at 613-678-3003.
#### Additional Tips
While you are without tap water: in addition to obtaining bottled drinking water, consider bringing in buckets of water from neighbours to use for flushing. Melting buckets of snow however is not safe for drinking or bathing, it can be used to flush toilets.
Once your water service is thawed, keep constant quarter inch stream of water flowing from a cold water tap until the end of the winter season.
###
#### Winterize Outside Faucets
Properly drain all outside pipes/hose faucets using shut off valves to bleed out water that may remain in the line.
#### Look for Cold Drafts or Insulate pipes
Look around the home or building for areas that may be vulnerable due to a lack of insulation or heating such as basements, attics, garages, and crawl spaces. The water lines servicing or running through these areas are at risk and should be insulated to avoid freezing.
There are several products available that can be used to help avoid the freezing of pipes, which should be handled by a plumbing professional to ensure efficiency and safety.
#### Consider Leaving Your Water Running
As previously mentioned, keep constant quarter inch stream of water flowing from a cold water tap until the end of the winter season.
#### Be Prepared When Travelling
Leaving during winter? Keep your thermostat at 15 degrees Celsius or higher, and have someone check your house every day.
#### Be Prepared
Emergency Management Ontario suggests that each household has at the ready, four litres of fresh water, per person, per day for drinking and bathing.
---
## Annual Water Report
The Champlain Annual Drinking Water Reports have been prepared to satisfy Section 11 and Schedule 22 of O. Reg. 170/03: Drinking Water Systems Regulation, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. Each report describes the Champlain Drinking Water Systems, details of the water quality testing results, and any non-compliances and adverse conditions that may have occurred from January 1 to December 31.
The Champlain Township, in conjunction with the Ontario Clean Water Agency, is committed to providing safe and clean drinking water to all of its citizens and customers, to remain compliant with all regulatory requirements, and to maintain and continually improve its drinking water quality management system. All efforts have been made to ensure that the information presented is accurate and straightforward.
Under the Ontario Drinking Water Systems regulation (0.Reg. 170/03), municipalities that maintain drinking water systems are required to prepare an annual report on the operation of the water system and the quality of its water.
###
* Laurentian Park Annual Drinking Water Report [PDF/238KB]
* L'Orignal Annual Drinking Water Report
* Vankleek Hill Annual Drinking Water Report [PDF/319KB]
* Town of Hawkesbury Annual Drinking Water Report [PDF/1MB]
###
* Laurentian Park Annual Drinking Water Report [PDF/218KB]
* L'Orignal Annual Drinking Water Report
* Vankleek Hill Annual Drinking Water Report [PDF/238KB]
* Town of Hawkesbury Annual Drinking Water Report [PDF/815KB]
###
Please note that the Annual Regulatory Water Reports for each of these drinking water systems for reporting years 2023 and prior are available to any resident upon request at the township office or send an email to [email protected]. as the current formats do not meet comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.