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## Water & Wastewater
Merrickville-Wolford Council approves water rates each year, which includes charges for water use and wastewater treatment.
The full costs of operating the water and wastewater system are fully recovered from user charges, not the tax levy. The Village of Merrickville-Wolford is required to recover the necessary capital costs to maintain the systems in perpetuity.
Since the tragic events occurring with Walkerton Ontario's water supply in 2000, the Province of Ontario has implemented a number of stringent regulations for all municipalities.
The Village of Merrickville-Wolford must comply with the provincial legislation and ensure their respective systems, pipes and equipment are properly maintained and tested in accordance with these new regulations. The cost for these enhancements has necessitated significant water and sewer rate increases by all Ontario municipalities in the last number of years.
Further fiscal pressure for Merrickville is the small number of users on the system, so cost per user is higher in Merrickville.
### Water/Sewer Billing Due Dates
Residential water meters are read bimonthly which avoids estimated bills and ensures you are billed only for the water you have used.
Bill payments are due on the **last business day** of the following months:
January
March
May
July
September
November
### Current Water/Sewer Service Rates
| Water Service Type | Base Rate (bimonthly) | Metered Water/Sewer Service Rate (per cubic meter of water) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Independent Residential Unit | **$123.02** per unit bimonthly for **water** and **$225.47** per unit for **wastewater,** for the first 15 M3 | **$3.28** per cubic meter per unit for water and **$6.13** per unit for **wastewater** after 15 cubic meters |
| **$123.02** per unit bimonthly for **water only** for the first 15 M3 | **$3.28** per cubic meter after 15 cubic meters per unit |
| Multiple Residential Unit | **$123.02** per unit bimonthly for **water** and **$225.47** per unit for **wastewater**, for the first 15 M3 | **$3.28** per cubic meter per unit for **water** and **$6.13** per unit for **wastewater** after 15 cubic meters |
| Industrial/Commercial/Institutional Units | **$188.74** per unit bimonthly for **water** and **$345.91 per unit for wastewater,** for the first 30 M3 | **$3.28** per cubic meter per unit for **water** and **$6.13** per unit for **wastewater** after 30 cubic meters |
| Water Service Type | Base Rate (per month) | Metered Water/Sewer Service Rate (per cubic meter of water) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Independent Residential Unit (Water and Sewer) | **$162.87** per unit monthly on **water and sewer** for the first 7.5 M3 | **$8.67** per cubic meter after 7.5 cubic meters (c.m.) per unit |
| Independent Residential Unit (Water ONLY) | **$54.30** per unit monthly for **water only** for the first 7.5 M3 | **$2.88** per cubic meter after 7.5 cubic meters (c.m.) per unit |
| Multiple Residential Unit | **$162.87** per unit monthly on **water and sewer** for the first 7.5 M3 | **$8.67** per cubic meter after 7.5 cubic meters (c.m.) per unit |
| Industrial/Commercial/Institutional Units | **$249.87** per unit monthly for the first 15 M3 | **$8.67** per cubic meter after 15.0 cubic meters (c.m.) per unit |
### Get In Touch
Village of Merrickville-Wolford
317 Brock Street West,
P.O. Box 340
Merrickville, Ontario, K0G 1N0
Phone: 613-269-4791
Fax: 613-269-3095
Karina Theriault
*Account Clerk*Phone: 613-269-4791 Ext. 260
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | 2026 Water and Wastewater Rates | |
| | 2025 Water and Wastewater Rates | |
| | 2024 Water and Wastewater Rates | |
| | 2023 Water and Wastewater Rates | |
| | 2022 Water and Wastewater Rates | |
| | 2021 Water and Wastewater Rates | |
| | 2020 Water and Wastewater Rates | |
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | 2025 Merrickville Annual Water Report | |
| | 2024 Merrickville Annual Water Report | |
| | 2023 Merrickville Annual Water Report | |
| | 2022 Merrickville Annual Water Report | |
| | 2021 Merrickville Annual Water Report | |
| | 2020 Merrickville Annual Water Report | |
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | 2024 Merrickville STP Annual Report | |
| | 2023 Merrickville STP Annual Report | |
| | 2022 Merrickville STP Annual Report | |
| | 2021 Merrickville STP Annual Report | |
| | 2020 Merrickville STP Annual Report | |
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | 2021-2027 Approved Water System Financial Plan | |
| | Merrickville Drinking Water System Operational Plan | |
* Pre-Authorized Payment Authorization Form for Utilities
* Change of Address Form
* E-Coder Icons and Display Help Guide
### Sodium in Drinking Water FAQs
Sodium is a naturally occurring mineral in food and water and is a necessary element of human health. Typically, the consumption of sodium from food is much higher than from drinking water.
Sodium in raw water sources can vary dramatically depending on the source - lakes, rivers or wells. The naturally occurring sodium levels in the groundwater aquifers that the Municipality draws from for drinking water have historically ranged between 31.8 mg/L and 39.7 mg/L. No sodium is added as part of the Municipal water treatment process.
The Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality and Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards (ODWS) set an aesthetic objective (i.e., non-health related) for sodium in drinking water at 200 mg/L, at which point it can be detected by a salty taste by the average person. The province has not specified a health related maximum acceptable concentration in drinking water in the ODWS.
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Ontario Drinking Water Systems Regulation (170/03) requires that a report be made to the local Medical Officer(s) of Health if a sodium result exceeds 20 mg/L in a sample of drinking water. When a sodium sample result in drinking water exceeds 20 mg/L, the Medical Officer of Health informs physicians and other health professionals to help people following sodium restricted diets determine their sodium intake.
Under the Ontario Drinking Systems Regulation (O. Reg. 170/03), drinking water systems are required to test water supplies for sodium once every five years. All samples are sent to an external accredited laboratory for analysis. The Village of Merrickville carries out this mandatory testing and includes the data within the drinking water reports published and posted online annually.
A sample taken January 5th, 2025, revealed a sodium level of 38.9mg/l. A repeat sample was taken on January 8th, 2026 and showed a sodium level of 39.7mg/l. Sodium levels above 20 mg/L are not uncommon in drinking-water; in fact, several municipalities in Ontario have sodium levels that regularly exceed 50 mg/L.
The human body requires sodium to maintain blood pressure, control fluid levels and for normal nerve and muscle function. Health Canada puts the adequate intake of sodium for healthy people (14-50 years old) at 2,000 mg per day; however, individuals on sodium restricted diets should consider the amount of sodium in the water when calculating their sodium intake. When sodium levels in drinking water are at 20 mg/L, drinking two litres per day would contribute 40 mg of sodium to a person's diet. For healthy adults, this level of sodium in drinking water does not pose a health risk.
To view the 2026 Notice, please click here.
### Water Conservation Basics
Water is essential to our daily lives. Whenever water is used, there is a potential for conservation both inside and outside of your home or business. Fresh water is a limited resource, making water conservation an important factor for the environment. With population growth, expansion of industry, increasing levels of development activity, and the potential for climate change impacts there is increasing pressure placed on the province's water resources. Whether you are on a municipal or a private domestic water supply, water conservation is a wise practice.
Here are some reasons why you might want to use less water:
* Save money on your power bills by using less energy to heat and pump water
* Reduce water shortage frequency and impacts
* Environmental benefits
On average, Canadians use approximately 223 litres of water per person per day - making Canada one of the largest per capita water consumers in the world.
Water is an important part of our daily lives and we use it for a wide variety of purposes. The majority of indoor water use occurs in the household bathroom at 65%.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2013
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada
The majority of indoor household water use comes from toilets, washing machines, baths, showers, faucets and leaks. Outdoor water usage for things like watering the grass, washing the driveway, and for recreational uses can also use significant amounts of water. What you can do to save water is fairly simple. There are numerous ways to decrease your water use and help conservation efforts:
1
### CHECK FOR LEAKS
Frequently checking for leaks helps to ensure you aren't using large amounts of water. Toilets are the most common source of water leakage.
2
### INSTALL WATER SAVING DEVICES
Adding water-saving devices to your home or business can help to conserve water. Consider adding:
* Water faucet aerators
* Low-flow showerheads
* Toilet dams
3
### OTHER SIMPLE CONSERVATION TIPS
##### Conservation in the bathroom
The bathroom accounts for the majority of indoor water use. Learn how to check for leaky toilets and other tips to save water.
* Install water efficient toilets and fixtures.
* When washing, brushing your teeth or shaving, never let the tap run continuously.
* Turn off the taps tightly (but gently) so they do not drip.
* Take shorter showers.
* Fix leaky faucets and toilets. Even the smallest drip from a worn washer can waste 75 or more litres a day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds.
* To check for a toilet leak, place a few drops of food coloring or dye test tablets (available at home improvement stores) in the toilet tank. Do not flush; wait 10-15 minutes. If the bowl water changes colour, you have a leak.
##### Conservation in the kitchen
* Take foods out of the freezer early to allow plenty time to thaw rather than running water over it.
* Keep water in the fridge so you don't have to run the tap to get cold water.
* Completely fill the dishwasher before you turn it on. It can use 35-45 litres per cycle.
* If you wash dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing.
* Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Just rinse them in a stoppered sink or a pan of clean water.
* Keep cooking fats, oils and grease out of the drain. They can stick to and block the inside of pipes, which can lead to sewer back-ups and basement flooding.
##### Conservation in the laundry room
* Purchase a high efficiency washing machine.
* Try to only do laundry when the machine is full.
* If you need to wash smaller loads, be sure to adjust your washer's water level settings accordingly.
##### Conservation outdoors
* Deep-soak your lawn, long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most good. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow root systems.
* Water in the morning to eliminate evaporation.
* Adjust sprinklers to water lawns and not driveways or the sidewalk.
* Avoid watering on windy days.
* Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture and discourage weed growth too.
* Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
* When washing your car, rather than use a running hose consider using a bucket, a sponge, and a hose with a trigger nozzle.
* Check garden hoses and connections frequently and keep them drip-free. Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they are not as visible, but they can be just as wasteful as leaks inside.
##### Conservation during winter
Typically, water use increases in the summer as we try to meet water demand of lawns, vegetable gardens and flowers. Unlike most provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador uses more water in the winter months compared to the summer. This is mainly due to the risk of freezing water pipes during cold temperatures. Here are some ways you can conserve water during the winter:
* Drip faucets instead of running water to prevent your pipes from freezing.
* Collect water in a bucket for flushing the toilet. Showers take longer to heat up in the winter so take advantage of the first few minutes of cold water.
* Wrap all exposed pipes and insulate hot water pipes to help protect them against bursting.
* If your pipes do burst, know where your shut off valve is to prevent excessive damage and decrease water usage.
* Call in a plumber after the first thaw to check your pipes for damage and leaks.
* Do not use your hose to melt snowbanks. This is an unnecessary waste of water.
Regardless of the season, it is important to be conscious of the amount of water you're using. Be sure to follow the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room water conservation tips year round to prevent excessive use of water during all seasons.
4
### WATER EFFICIENCY FOR BUSINESS
By reducing water consumption, you can:
* Lower operating costs.
* Enhance your public image by demonstrating your commitment to the environment.
* Increase your competitiveness by saving money and attracting new loyal customers.
### Quick Links
Agendas and Minutes
Applications, Licences & Permits
Career Opportunities
Community Events
Garbage and Recycling
### Contact Us
Staff Directory
Phone: 613-269-4791
Fax: 613-269-3095
### Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:3oam to 4:30pm
Closed daily from 12:00pm to 1:00pm
### Office Location
317 Brock Street West,
P.O. Box 340
Merrickville, Ontario, K0G 1N0
