This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot bcbe75e65352 · verified 2026-10-23 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF HAWKESBURY
By-law N° 12-2026
A by-law fixing the rates for the water
and sewer services and enacting rules and regulations pertaining to
the use of water and water meters
WHEREAS Section 391 of the Municipal Act, 2001 provides that a municipality
may by by-law impose fees or charges on persons for services or activities
provided or done by or on behalf of it;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury
decides to levy and impose a fee to defray the expenses encountered by the
water and sewer services against users of said facilities, and to whom services
are available;
AND WHEREAS the fee for water and sewer services shall be imposed on a
combination of a flat rate and a water consumption rate;
AND WHEREAS Subsection 398 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 states that fees
and charges imposed by a municipality or local board on a person constitutes a
debt of the person to the municipality or local board respectively;
AND WHEREAS Subsection 398 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 states that the
treasurer of a local municipality may add fees and charges imposed by a
municipality under Part XII to the tax roll for the property to which the public
utility was supplied and collect them in the same manner as municipal taxes;
AND WHEREAS Section 1 of the Ontario Regulation 581/06 states that fees
and charges for the supply of water and the use of sewer system that are
imposed by a municipality under the Act and added to the tax roll under
Subsection 398 (2) have priority lien status.
AND WHEREAS a budget for the year 2026 in the amount of $2,522,186 is
required to cover the fixed and variable expenses for the production and
delivery of drinkable water;
AND WHEREAS a budget for the year 2026 in the amount of $3,112,055 is
required to cover the fixed and variable expenses for the treatment of
wastewater;
By-law N° 12-2026
Page 2
NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Hawkesbury
enacts as follows:
1.
THAT the owner of each assessed parcel of land that is connected to the
municipal water distribution system shall pay a water rate and a sewer
rate based on water consumption and pay the service specific flat rate,
where annual rates are set forth below per dwelling or dwelling unit as
defined in the Zoning By-law N° 20-2018, as amended, per commercial
unit as defined in the Ontario Building Code Act Section 1.4, as
amended, per institutional unit and per industrial unit. Owners that are
not connected to the sewer services shall be charged for water services
only.
THAT the owner of a registered retirement home, a licensed group home
or Home for the Aged as defined respectively in the Zoning By-law N° 20-
2018 and the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, as amended, that is
connected to the municipal water distribution system shall pay a water
rate and a sewer rate based on water consumption and pay the service
specific flat rate imposed on 1/3 of the total dwelling unit or room in the
home where the per unit annual rates are as set forth below. For the
purpose of billing, units are rounded up.
THAT the owner of a commercial property with water meter of less than
1.5 inches that is connected to the municipal water distribution system
shall pay a water rate and a sewer rate based on water consumption and
pay the service specific flat rate imposed on 50% of the total number of
commercial units on the property, where the per unit annual rates are set
forth below. For the purpose of billing, units are rounded up.
THAT the owner of a commercial property with water meter equal or
larger than 1.5 inches or with a property code listed below, as defined by
MPAC, that is connected to the municipal water distribution system shall
pay a water rate and a sewer rate based on water consumption and pay
the service specific flat rate imposed on 50% of the total number of
commercial units on the property, where the per unit annual rates are set
forth below. For the purpose of billing, units are rounded up.
411 -
Restaurant - conventional
412 -
Restaurant - fast food
413 -
Restaurant - conventional, national chain
414 -
Restaurant - fast food, national chain
421 -
Specialty automotive shop/auto repair/collision service/car
or truck wash
422 -
Auto dealership
423 -
Auto dealership - independent dealer or used vehicles
By-law N° 12-2026
Page 3
THAT the owner of a large commercial property, with a property code
listed below, as defined by MPAC, that is connected to the municipal
water distribution system shall pay a water rate and a sewer rate based
on water consumption and pay the service specific flat rate imposed,
where the annual rates are set forth below.
409 -
Retail--one storey, generally over 10,000 s.f.
425 -
Neighbourhood shopping centre--more than two stores
attached, under one ownership, with anchor; generally less
than 150,000 s.f.
426 -
Small box shopping centre--less than 100,000 s.f.
minimum
3 box stores with one anchor (large grocery or discount
store)
427 -
Big box shopping/power centre--greater than 100,000 s.f.
with 2 or more main anchors such as discount or grocery
stores with a collection of box or strip stores and in a
commercial concentration concept
428 -
Regional Shopping Centre
429 -
Community shopping centre
430 -
Neighbourhood shopping centre - with more than 2 stores
attached, under one ownership, without anchor - generally
less than 150,000 s.f.
431 -
Department store
434 -
Freestanding supermarket
435 -
Large retail building centre, generally greater than 30,000
s.f.
436 -
Freestanding large retail store, national chain, generally
greater than 30,000 s.f.
438 -
Neighbourhood shopping centre with offices above
530 -
Warehouse
THAT the owner of a school (elementary or secondary, including private)
property that is connected to the municipal water distribution system shall
pay a water rate and a sewer rate based on water consumption and pay
the service specific flat rate imposed, where the annual rates are set forth
below.
THAT the owner of an industrial property that is connected to the
municipal water distribution system shall pay a water rate and a sewer
rate based on water consumption and pay the service specific flat rate
imposed, where the annual rates are set forth below.
By-law N° 12-2026
Page 4
Consumption rate
Water
Sewer
Combined
Per cubic meter
$ 1.35
$ 1.55
$ 2.90
Flat rate (per unit) - Annual
Water
Sewer
Combined
Dwelling or Dwelling unit
$ 165.00
$ 220.00
$ 385.00
Retirement or long-term care
homes, hospital or hotel (per 1/3
units)
$ 165.00
$ 220.00
$ 385,00
Commercial w/ meter < 1.5"
$ 330.00
$ 440.00
$ 770.00
Commercial+ w/ meter >= 1.5"
$ 660.00
$ 880.00
$ 1,540.00
Schools
$ 1,320.00
$ 1,760.00
$ 3,080.00
Large Commercial or Industrial
$ 2,310.00
$ 3,080.00
$ 5,390.00
2.
THAT the billings for water and sewer services shall be on a quarterly
basis. Invoices shall be mailed to owners no later than twenty-one (21)
days before the last business day of January, April, July and October,
and are payable no later than the last business day of these months.
3.
THAT in the case of payments received by mail, the date the payment is
received at the Town Hall shall be taken as the date of payment. For
payments that are made electronically or at a financial institution, the
date the payment is transferred into the municipality's bank account shall
be taken as the date of payment.
4.
THAT a 1.25% monthly penalty charge of the gross amount of the
overdue account shall be charged for all past due accounts on the
morning of the fourth working day of default and on the first day of each
calendar month during which the default continues without going beyond
year 2026.
.
5.
THAT if and when twenty-one (21) days after the payment of an
instalment has become due and remains unpaid, and under the authority
of Subsection 81 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, the municipality may
notify the owners of the premises with respect to which default has
occurred that unless the arrears and penalty charges are paid within
seven (7) days of the mailing of said notice by registered mail, the supply
of water to the premises shall be shut off. The said notice shall stipulate
the earliest date and the hour at which said services are to be shut off.
The municipality shall not be liable for any damages to property or injury
to persons by reason of shutting off water supply. The owner shall be
required to pay the municipality a $60.00 fee for turning on the water
supply.
By-law N° 12-2026
Page 5
6.
THAT If the owner of any premises omits, neglects or refuses to pay any
bill issued, whether for water or sewer services, pipes, meter, service
charge or any other monies to which the municipality may be entitled in
respect to such premises, such charges shall remain a lien on the
property and may be collected in the like manner as taxes. The bill shall
be deemed to be served upon the owner if it is delivered or sent by mail
to the premises supplied.
7.
THAT it shall be the responsibility of the purchaser or his solicitor to
request for a meter reading prior to the closing of a transaction; otherwise
the owner as per the Assessment Roll in effect at the day the bills are
sent out will be responsible to pay said bill in full.
8.
THAT the cost for a meter reading outside the quarterly scheduled
readings and the issuance of each additional bill shall be $60 plus
applicable taxes.
9.
THAT where for any reason the consumption of water or the number of
units on any assessed parcel of land has not been recorded correctly or
where in the opinion of the Treasurer the consumption of water has been
wrongly recorded, the Treasurer shall either estimate the quantity of
water consumed on the historical use for the past twelve months, if
available, or assess the number of units using most recent municipal
official or MPAC documents, and the owner shall be liable to pay the
applicable flat rate or the meter rate applicable to the consumption on the
basis of such estimate or assessment. Whenever the existing number of
units on any assessed parcel of land is discovered by the Treasurer to
differ from any one levy, the Treasurer shall have the right to re-assess
all previous levies to the date whereby this By-law took effect, and the
owner shall be liable to pay the applicable flat fee on the basis of such re-
assessment.
10.
THAT if for any reasons, whether caused by the negligence or not of an
owner of any premises, water fails to go through the water meter, and is
therefore wasted, the Treasurer is authorized to estimate the quantity of
water that has been wasted on either the historical use for the past
twelve months or by estimating the amount of water according with the
size of pipes and the estimated length of time the water has not gone
through the water meter.
11.
THAT where because of frost penetration on the street, or under the
directions of the Waterworks Superintendent it may be expedient to allow
the consumer to run water at a continuous low rate, the Treasurer shall
authorize such usage and shall adjust the billing based on the historical
use for the past twelve months, if available.
By-law N° 12-2026
Page 6
12.
THAT where it has been proven by the municipality that water wasted on
premises has been caused by the initial installation of the water meters,
the Treasurer shall adjust the billing based on the historical use for the
past twelve months, if available for the property.
13.
THAT if owners, following the flushing of fire hydrants or otherwise
directed by the Waterworks Superintendent, are recommended to let the
water run before consumption, the municipality will not adjust the billing
since the extra water consumption is not considered to be significant and
the instructions apply throughout the municipality.
14.
THAT the municipality does not guarantee any pre-determined water
pressure or flow, or guarantee the water supplied to be free of colours or
turbidity at all times.
15.
THAT it shall be the responsibility of the owner to inspect the water meter
and plumbing periodically to ensure no leaks are visible and shall report
said leaks or defects immediately to the municipality. The municipality
shall not be held responsible for any damages from such leaks nor for
the repairs and shall not be responsible to credit the owner for water
wasted.
16.
THAT upon receipt of the bill for water and sewer services, the onus is on
the owner of lands to verify the accuracy of all inscriptions thereto and to
report any inaccuracies to the Treasurer of the municipality within thirty
days from the date of the bill.
17.
THAT should a Court of competent jurisdiction declare any Section or
part of a Section of the present by-law to be invalid or ultra vires, such
Section or part of a Section shall be deemed to be severable and all
parts hereof are declared to be separate and independent and enacted
as such and shall not affect the validity of the by-law as a whole or any
part thereof, other than the provision or part of the Section so declared to
be invalid.
18.
THAT this by-law shall be deemed to have come into force and effect on
the 1st day of January 2026.
READ A FIRST, SECOND AND ADOPTED UPON THIRD READING
THIS 9th DAY OF MARCH 2026.
By-law N° 12-2026
Page 7
_________________________
_______________________
Robert Lefebvre, Mayor
Sonia Girard, Clerk