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# Drinking Water
# Drinking Water
Construction Fees
## Drinking Water
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake owns and operates two separate drinking water distribution systems which are the Niagara-on-the-Lake drinking water system (Niagara-on-the-Lake DWS) and the Bevan Heights drinking water system (Bevan Heights DWS). The Town maintains responsibility for water distribution only; the facilities for water treatment and storage are owned and managed by the Niagara Region. The two drinking water systems distribute treated drinking water within a service area of approximately 12,600 hectares. The service area is bounded by Lake Ontario, the Niagara River, the City of Niagara Falls and the City of St. Catharines.
* ## Seasonal Taste and Odour in Tap Water
Seasonal Taste and Odour in Drinking Water is not a Threat to Public Health.
* The Niagara-on-the-Lake system receives treated water from the Niagara Region's Decew Falls Water Treatment Plant in St. Catharines and the Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant, both of which are regionally owned and operated. The Niagara-on-the-Lake system conveys water to approximately 15,000 residents through an estimated 200 kilometres of Town-owned watermains.
#### Water Facts
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Drinking Water System includes:
+ 200 km of watermains
+ 1386 fire hydrants
+ 1358 valves
+ Two water-filling stations
* The Bevan Heights Drinking Water System is much smaller than the Niagara-on-the-Lake Drinking Water System. It receives its treated water from the Niagara Region's Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant via the City of Niagara Falls drinking water distribution system. The Bevan Heights system distributes drinking water to approximately 157 residents, and includes around two kilometres of mainly PVC watermains.
## Water Facts
+ The Bevan Heights Drinking Water System includes:
+ Two kms of watermains
+ 16 fire hydrants
+ 19 valves
* The treated drinking water within the Town's two distribution systems is tested for E.coli, total coliforms, Heterotrophic plate count (HPC), free chlorine residual, trihalomethanes (THMs), pH and lead and Haloacetic acids (HAAs).
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake's drinking water continually meets the Drinking Water Quality Standards set out by the Province of Ontario, proving that the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake provides safe drinking water of high quality.
Sampling, testing and monitoring results are summarized in reports, which are required to be prepared and published annually and are available on our Water Reports page.
* In the findings of the Walkerton Inquiry, Justice O'Connor recommended that municipal drinking water systems owners obtain a licence to operate their systems and incorporate quality management into their operations. To meet this recommendation, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) developed the Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. All municipalities in Ontario that supply drinking water must have a Licence for their system. The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has valid licenses for both of it's drinking water systems.
In order to obtain a Licence, municipalities are required to have:
+ a Drinking Water Works Permit
+ an Operational Plan
+ Accreditation of the Operating Authority (third party audit of the Drinking Water Quality Management System)
+ a Financial Plan
The Town's operating authority has Full Scope - Entire DWQMS accreditation.
* Implementation of the Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) is part of the new Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program. A Quality Management System (QMS) consists of a set of policies, procedures and objectives that direct and control an organization with respect to quality. These policies, procedures and objectives are documented in the Town's Operational Plan. A QMS helps to identify and prioritize risks, improves communication and team work, and provides procedures to enhance consistency and reduce errors.
* The purpose of the Operational Plan is to document the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake's Drinking Water Quality Management System (policies, procedures and objectives) to help ensure that safe drinking water is supplied to all of its customers. The operational plan applies to all drinking water related operations at the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Bevan Heights drinking water systems. Copies of the Operational Plan are accessible to the public. Hard copies are available at the Town Administration Building (1593 Four Mile Creek Road) or at the Public Works Building (3 Lorraine Street) in Virgil.
* + Water System Financial Plan 2020
+ Water System Financial Plan 2010
+ Appendices to Water System Financial Plan
* View the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake's Drinking Water Policy.
For more information on the Drinking Water Quality Management Standard, visit the Province of Ontario's website.
For a Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program overview, visit the Province of Ontario's website.
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
The Town's water distribution and sewage collection systems is maintained and operated in cooperation with the Region, in addition to municipal irrigation systems. For more details, please see the Irrigation page.
Note that the Region has the responsibility for the domestic water treatment (including pumps, storage facilities, and 39.5 km. of mains) and sewage treatment facilities (including pumping stations and force mains).
Routine activities include:
* Operating and maintaining water valves
* Maintaining hydrants
* Flushing of mains and systems
* Reading and testing of water meters
* Providing locates for underground mains and services
* Turning off/on water services
* Taking samples for water quality testing
* Installing and inspecting water/sewer service connections to the property line
* Repairing water main breaks, clearing sewer blockages
* Activating, maintaining and shutting down irrigation pumps/siphons
* Installing meters for hydrant irrigation
* Providing support services for contractors and developers
* Maintaining equipment
* Controlling inventory and investigating service referrals
Niagara-on-the-Lake has received regulatory relief from Lead Testing; however, bacteriological and other chemical testing is still being conducted according to provincial legislation.
## Notice to Water and Wastewater Customers
Please click the following links for important information regarding the Water Distribution Systems Rate Review and Financial Plan:
2026 Water and Wastewater Rates
By-Law 2026-014
By-Law 2758-94
By-Law 2024-072
## Water Reports
These reports are published in print and posted on the Town's website on the internet in accordance with the requirements of the Drinking Water Protection Regulation which came into effect on August 26, 2000.
See all water reports
* Maintenance staff: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays
Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays
### Bulk Water Stations Hours of Operation
Concession 5 Road Station is open from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily and the Walker Road Station is open 24/7.
* + 2026 Water/Wastewater Rates
+ Water System Management By-Law No. 814-77
* + Bulk Water Application
+ Bulk Water Application Operating Instructions
+ Hydrant Irrigation Application
+ Storm Service Application
+ Wastewater Service Application
+ Water Service Application
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