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The Corporation of the Municipality of South Huron
By-Law #18- 2026
Being a By-Law to provide for the setting of rates for Water and Wastewater
Services in the Municipality of South Huron and to Repeal By-Law 66-2021
Whereas Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of South Huron passed By-law
No. 66-2021 on September 7, 2021, being a by-law to provide for the setting of rates
for Water and Wastewater Services in the Municipality of South Huron; and
Whereas Council of the Corporation of the Town of Exeter passed By-law No. 73,1988
on November 21, 1988, being a by-law to provide for the Regulation of Waste
Discharge into the municipal sewer system in the Town of Exeter; and
Whereas Council of the Corporation of the Township of Stephen passed By-law No.
24-1987 on July 7, 1987, being a by-law to provide for the Regulation of Waste
Discharge into the municipal sewer system in the Township of Stephen; and
Whereas under the Municipal Act, 2001, SO 2001, as amended, provides under
Section 11(3).4 that a lower-tier municipality may pass by-laws respecting matters
within the sphere of jurisdiction of Public Utilities; and
Whereas the Municipal Act, 2001, SO 2001, as amended, provides under section 8(1)
that the powers of a municipality shall be interpreted broadly so as to confer broad
authority on the municipality to enable the municipality to govern their affairs as they
consider appropriate and to enhance the municipality's ability to respond to municipal
issues; and
Whereas the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, provides under Section 391 that a
municipality may pass by-laws imposing fees or charges on any class of persons for
services or activities provided or done by or on behalf of it,
Now therefore be it resolved that the Council of The Corporation of the Municipality of
South Huron enacts as follows:
Short Title
Water and Wastewater Rates and Charges By-law
By-law Index
Page 2 of 13
Part 1
Definitions
1.1
Definitions
All other Residential - defined
Apartment Building - defined
Building, Mixed-use - defined
Campground - defined
Commercial Property - defined
Condominium - defined
Converted Dwelling - defined
Customer - defined
Duplex Dwelling - defined
Dwelling Unit - defined
Engineer - defined
Exeter Service Area - defined
Fourplex Dwelling - defined
Home based Business - defined
Industrial Property - defined
Institutional - defined
Meter - defined
Modular Dwelling - defined
Mobile Home - defined
Multiple Dwelling - defined
Multi-family (bulk meter) - defined
Municipality - defined
Owner - defined
Potable water - defined
Residential Property - defined
Semi-detached Dwelling - defined
Sewage - defined
Sewage related services - defined
Sewage Works - defined
Single Detached Dwelling - defined
Page 3 of 13
Townhouse - defined
Trailer, Recreational - defined
Triplex Dwelling - defined
Stephen Service Area - defined
Water - defined
Water distribution system - defined
Water related services - defined
Waterworks - defined
Part 2
Development of Water Rates and Charges
2.1
Development of water rates and charges
2.2
Fees and charges imposed
2.3
Minimum Charges for Mandatory Connection Areas.
2.4
Potential Adjustment to Wastewater Consumptive Charge for Commercial and
Industrial Customers
2.5
Water and Wastewater Charges for Home Based Businesses
2.6
Wholesale Water Consumptive Charges for Large Volume Institutional,
Commercial & Industrial Water Consumers
2.7
Excess Wastewater Flows
Part 3
Monthly Water Rates and Charges
3.1
Residential, Commercial, Institutional and Industrial water supply rates
3.2
Multi family residential water supply rates
3.3
Methods of Payment
Part 4
Non-payment
4.1
Non-payment of fees and charges
Part 5
Previous By-law Repealed
5.1
Repeal - previous by-law, By-Law #66-2021
Part 6
Short Title
6.1
Short title
Page 4 of 13
Part 7
Effective Date
7.1
Effective date
Part 1
Definitions
1.1
Definitions
In this by-law:
"All other Residential" means a single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling,
townhouse, condominium, mobile home, modular dwelling, as defined in this by-law.
"Apartment Building" means a building that is divided horizontally and/or vertically
into four or more separate dwelling units with individual access but does not include a
converted dwelling or townhouse dwelling or townhouse dwelling.
"Building, Mixed-use" means a development project containing more than one land
use category (i.e. retail commercial and residential, office and residential, industrial
and retail commercial, office and retail commercial) that are conceived and designed
as a single structure.
"Campground" means a parcel of land used or maintained as an overnight tenting or
camping area, where people are temporarily accommodated in tents, trailers, travel
trailers, motor home or similar facilities, whether or not a fee or charge is paid for the
rental thereof but does not include a mobile home or a mobile home park.
"Commercial Property" means a property used for the sale of goods or services and
for the purposes of this By-law shall include office buildings, private nursing homes,
hotels, motels, licensed premises and private clubs, and any building that is used in
conjunction with these uses, but does not include any mixed-use commercial property
that contains dwelling units.
"Condominium" means a building or buildings in which each individual unit is held in
separate private ownership and all floor space, facilities and outdoor areas used in
common by all tenants are owned, administered and maintained by a corporation
created pursuant to the provisions of the Condominium Act.
"Converted Dwelling" means an existing dwelling constructed as a single, semi-
detached, duplex or triplex dwelling on an existing lot in which the number of dwelling
units has been increased without significant alteration to the exterior of the building
except for non-leasable floor such as fire escapes, stairwells and entrances.
"Customer" shall mean any person who enters into a contract with the Municipality to
take water from the Municipality or to receive water related services from the
Municipality.
"Duplex Dwelling" means a building that is divided horizontally into two separate
dwelling units but does not include a converted dwelling.
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"Dwelling Unit" means a room or a suite of rooms operated as a housekeeping unit,
used or intended to be used as a domicile by one or more persons and supporting
general living conditions usually including cooking, eating, sleeping, and sanitary
facilities.
"Engineer" shall mean a registered professional engineer retained by the Municipality
of South Huron to represent the Municipality.
"Exeter Service Area" shall mean the area serviced by the Exeter water distribution
system and the area defined in the South Huron Official Plan, Effective June 3, 2003 -
Consolidated June 25, 2025, as Schedule 'C' Land Use Plan Exeter.
"Fourplex Dwelling" means a building that is divided horizontally and/or vertically into
four separate dwelling units but does not include a converted dwelling or a townhouse
dwelling.
"Home Based Business" means an occupation or business conducted for profit
within a dwelling by a permanent resident or owner of the dwelling.
"Industrial Property" means a property for the manufacturing or processing of goods
or used for the storage of goods or raw materials and any property that is used in
conjunction with these uses.
"Institutional" means facilities provided by the municipality or by any other group or
organization without profit or gain for such special purposes as a hospital, school,
public medical centre, daycare, public nursing home, arena, recreation center,
community centre, museum, public library, scout house, drop-in centre, swimming
pools, parks, playgrounds, skating rinks, etc., but does not include private parks or
commercial recreation establishments.
"Meter" shall mean the water meter supplied and owned by the Municipality to
measure the quantity of water used by the customer.
"Modular Dwelling" means a prefabricated single detached dwelling designed to be
transported once only to a final location and constructed so as the shortest side of
such dwelling is not less than 6.0 metres in width.
"Mobile Home" shall mean a factory built dwelling occupied or designed for
occupancy by one family on a permanent basis having a floor area of not less than
sixty-five square metres designed to be towed on its own chassis, notwithstanding that
its running gear is or may be removed, placed or designed to be placed on permanent
foundations, and connected or designed to be connected to public utilities.
"Multiple Dwelling" means a building containing three (3) or more dwelling units.
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"Multi-family (bulk meter)" shall include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses,
trailer parks, land lease developments, recreational units and apartments with multiple
dwelling units metered by one water meter (called a "bulk meter").
"Municipality" shall mean the Corporation of the Municipality of South Huron.
"Owner" shall include any person who or any firm or corporation that is the registered
owner of the property under consideration or any agent thereof, a person entitled to a
limited estate in land, a trustee in whom land is vested, a committee of the estate of a
mentally incompetent person, an executor, an administrator and a guardian.
"Potable water" shall mean water that is fit for human consumption.
"Residential Property" means any property that is used or designed for use as a
domestic establishment in which one or more persons usually sleep and prepare and
serve meals and includes any lands or buildings that are appurtenant to such
establishment and all stairways, walkways, driveways, parking spaces, and fences
associated with the dwelling or its yard.
"Semi-detached Dwelling" means a building which contains two single dwellings
units which are attached vertically by a common wall.
"Sewage" means any liquid waste containing animal, vegetable or mineral matter in
solution or in suspension, except uncontaminated water.
"Sewage related services" shall include but not be limited to those items set out
under the heading "Miscellaneous Water and Wastewater Rates and Charges" in the
Water and Wastewater Rates and Charges By-Law.
"Sewage Works" means any works for the collection, transmission, treatment or
disposal of sewage, or any part of such works, but does not include plumbing to which
the Building Code under Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 23, Ontario
Regulation 163/24, or any amendments thereto apply.
"Single Detached Dwelling" means a single dwelling which is freestanding, separate
and detached from other main buildings or main structures, including a split level
dwelling, but does not include a mobile home.
"Stephen Service Area" shall mean the area serviced by the Stephen water
distribution system and the area defined in the South Huron Official Plan, Effective
June 3, 2003 - Consolidated June 25, 2025, as Schedule 'B' Land Use Plan
"Townhouse" means a building divided vertically into three or more attached dwelling
units by common walls extending from the base of the foundation to the roof line, each
dwelling unit having a separate entrance at grade, and so located on a lot that
individual units may not have legal frontage on a public street.
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"Trailer, Recreational" means any vehicle so constructed that it is suitable for being
attached to a motor vehicle for the purpose of being drawn or propelled by the motor
vehicle and capable of being used for temporary living, sleeping or eating
accommodation of persons, notwithstanding that such vehicle is jacked up or that its
running gear has been removed.
"Triplex Dwelling" means a building that is divided horizontally and/or vertically into
three separate dwelling units but does not include a converted dwelling or a
townhouse dwelling.
"Water" shall mean potable water supplied by the Municipality.
"Water distribution system" shall mean mains with connections to feeder mains,
feeder mains within subdivision lands, private mains, services, fire hydrants, and shut-
off valves and all other appurtenances thereto.
"Water related services" shall include but not be limited to those items set out under
the heading "Miscellaneous Water Rates and Charges" in the Water and Wastewater
Rates and Charges By-Law.
"Waterworks" shall mean any works for the collection, production, treatment, storage,
supply and distribution of water, or any part of any such works, but does not include
plumbing to which the Building Code under Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 23,
Ontario Regulation 163/24, or any amendments thereto apply.
Part 2
Development of Water and Wastewater Rates and Charges
2.1
Development of water and wastewater rates and charges
The Water and Wastewater Rates and Charges contained in this by-law are
approved and imposed commencing the first billing period, after April 1, 2026.
2.2
Fees and charges imposed
The fees and charges imposed by this by-law are due and payable:
a) at the time of the transaction for which the fee or charge is imposed;
b) upon the due date specified in any invoice issued by the Corporation of the
Municipality of South Huron to any person or party in connection with a fee
or charge imposed by this by-law.
2.3
Minimum Charges for Mandatory Connection Areas
Any property within a mandatory connection area established under by-law that
is not connected by the prescribed connection date shall be charged the
applicable "non-compliance" quarterly water and/or wastewater charge at the
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rates indicated in the schedule in Section 3.2(d) of this by-law. This charge will
continue until such time as the property is connected.
Any property that is not connected by the prescribed connection date, that has
a Council approved extension to the connection deadline shall pay the quarterly
"base charge" at the rates indicated in the schedule in Section 3.2(a) of this by-
law. This charge will continue until such time as the property is connected.
Any property that is not connected by the prescribed connection date, where an
application has been submitted for approval for an extension to the connection
deadline, shall pay the quarterly "base charge" at the rates indicated in the
schedule in Section 3.2(a) of this by-law, while that application is being
processed. This charge will continue until such time as the property is
connected.
2.4
Potential Adjustment to Wastewater Consumptive Charge for Commercial
and Industrial Customers.
Commercial and Industrial properties only, may apply to have the volume used
to calculate the wastewater consumptive charge reduced to reflect volumes
closer to the actual volume of wastewater discharged. The consumption volume
that shall be considered for reduction is the volume of potable water that is
incorporated into a product that is shipped off site in that product and is not
discharged into the wastewater system.
Application for reduction in wastewater consumptive charge shall be
accompanied with supporting documentation to substantiate the volume
reduction and if required, may be subject to third party review at the applicant's
expense. South Huron Council shall give final approval of any application for
reduction in wastewater consumptive charges.
All existing Wastewater Discharge Agreements shall continue in force until
those Agreements expire.
2.5
Water and Wastewater Charges for Home Based Businesses:
Home based businesses, for the purposes of water and wastewater billings
only, shall be included in the Institutional, Commercial & Industrial billing
category; and shall be charged Institutional, Commercial & Industrial water and
sewer rates in accordance with the applicable schedules in Part 3 of this By-
Law.
2.6
Wholesale Water Consumptive Charges for Large Volume Institutional
Commercial & Industrial Water Consumers:
Large volume Institutional, Commercial & Industrial consumers shall be charged
a wholesale water rate for all water used above a minimum threshold of
10,000m3 per month; at a rate that is 60% of the current year consumptive rate
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as set out in Schedule 3.1(c), Part 3 of this By-law. All water consumed up to
the minimum threshold of 10,000m3 per month shall be charged at the
consumptive rate set out in Schedule 3.1(c), Part 3 of this By-law. All other
water charges apply, such as the Quarterly Water Base Charge, and the
Exeter-Hensall Quarterly Debt Repayment Charge. If wastewater service is
provided, all wastewater charges apply, such as the Quarterly Wastewater
Base Charge and Wastewater Consumptive Charge.
2.8
Excess Wastewater Flows
For properties that have excess wastewater flows (ie. greater than the total
metered water consumption), the Municipality reserves the right to quantify the
wastewater flow and invoice the customer for the wastewater flows in excess of
the total metered water consumption at the current by-law wastewater
consumption rate per cubic meter.
Part 3
Quarterly Water and Wastewater Rates and Charges
3.1
Residential, Institutional, Commercial and Industrial Water supply rates.
All Residential, Institutional, Commercial and Industrial properties in the
Municipality shall be charged:
a) "Base Charge" for apartments and all other residential properties per
dwelling unit and a "Base Charge" for Institutional, Commercial and
Industrial properties based on the water service size at the property line, at a
fixed rate cost per quarter at the rates indicated in the Schedule below.
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Quarterly Water Base Charge
2026
2027
2028
Apartment (including duplex, triplex, fourplex and converted
dwelling)
$88.94
$94.48
$100.37
Apartment combined with Commercial (mixed-use, as defined)
$88.94
$94.48
$100.37
All Other Residential
$118.65
$126.05
$133.90
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 16mm (5/8"), 19mm
(3/4"), 25mm (1") service size
$118.65
$126.05
$133.90
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 32mm (1¼") service size
$126.28
$134.15
$142.51
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 38mm (1½") service size
$133.90
$142.24
$151.11
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 50mm (2") service size
$147.20
$156.37
$166.12
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 100mm (4") service size
$456.62
$485.08
$515.31
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 150mm (6") service size
$706.25
$750.26
$797.03
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 200mm (8") service size
$1012.78 $1075.90
$1142.96
b) "Exeter-Hensall Water Supply Pipeline Debt Repayment Charge" for
apartments and all other residential properties per dwelling unit and an
"Exeter-Hensall Water Supply Pipeline Debt Repayment Charge" for
Institutional, Commercial and Industrial properties based on the water
service size at the property line, at a fixed rate cost per quarter at the rates
indicated in the Schedule below. The debt repayment charge for the
customers in the Stephen Service Area and the Exeter Service Area is
established on a flow proportional basis.
Exeter-Hensall Quarterly Debt Repayment Charge
Exeter
Stephen
Apartment (including duplex, triplex, fourplex and converted
dwelling)
$42.50
$2.43
Apartment combined with Commercial (mixed-use, as defined)
$42.50
$2.43
All Other Residential
$56.69
$3.25
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 16mm (5/8"), 19mm
(3/4"), 25mm (1") service size
$56.69
$3.25
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 32mm (1¼") service size $60.35
$3.45
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 38mm (1½") service size $63.99
$3.65
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 50mm (2") service size
$70.35
$3.99
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 100mm (4") service size $218.27
$12.44
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 150mm (6") service size $337.48
$19.26
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 200mm (8") service size
$483.95
$27.69
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c) "Consumptive Charge" for all water consumption, on a per cubic metre
basis, for each respective customer, per quarter at the rates indicated in the
Schedule below:
Water Rates
Description
2026
2027
2028
Water Consumptive Rate ($/m3)
$1.89 $1.93
$1.97
3.2
Residential, Institutional, Commercial and Industrial Wastewater rates.
All Residential, Institutional, Commercial and Industrial properties in the
Municipality shall be charged:
a) "Base Charge" for apartments and all other residential properties per
dwelling unit and a "Base Charge" for Institutional, Commercial and
Industrial properties based on the water service size at the property line, at a
fixed rate cost per quarter at the rates indicated in the Schedule below.
Quarterly Wastewater Base Charge
2026
2027
2028
Apartment (including duplex, triplex, fourplex and converted
dwelling)
$110.04
$116.74
$123.84
Apartment combined with Commercial (mixed-use, as defined)
$110.04
$116.74
$123.84
All Other Residential
$146.24
$155.14
$164.58
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 16mm (5/8"), 19mm
(3/4"), 25mm (1") service size
$146.24
$155.14
$164.58
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 32mm (1¼") service size $155.65
$165.12
$175.17
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 38mm (1½") service size $165.78
$175.87
$186.57
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 50mm (2") service size
$181.70
$192.76
$204.49
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 100mm (4") service size $564.67
$599.03
$635.48
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 150mm (6") service size $873.07
$926.19
$982.55
Institutional, Commercial & Industrial - 200mm (8") service size
$1248.21
$1324.16 $1404.73
b) "Consumptive Charge" for all wastewater discharged on a per cubic metre
basis, calculated on the volume of water consumption, for each respective
customer, per quarter at the rates indicated in the Schedule below:
Wastewater Rates
Description
2026
2027
2028
Wastewater Consumptive Rate ($/m3)
$1.85
$1.89
$1.93
c) "Flat Rate Charge" for residential properties (per dwelling unit) and
Institutional, Commercial and Industrial properties (per property) in a
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mandatory connection area, established under by-law that has wastewater
service but does not have a water service, at a fixed rate cost per quarter at
the rates indicated in the Schedule below. The Municipality reserves the
right to calculate a per capita rate based on the estimated wastewater
discharge for any Institutional, Commercial and Industrial property.
Quarterly Rates
Description
2026
2027
2028
Wastewater Flat Rate Charge (Base and
Consumptive)
$438.78
$465.48
$493.80
d) "Non-compliance Charge" for residential properties (per dwelling unit) and
Institutional, Commercial and Industrial properties (per property) in a
mandatory connection area, established under by-law, that is not connected
by the prescribed connection date, at a fixed rate cost per quarter at the
rates indicated in the Schedule below.
Description
Quarterly Rate
Non-compliance Charge
$500.00
3.3
Methods of Payment
The fees, charges and penalties imposed by this by-law shall be paid as
follows:
a) under sections 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2 (late payment charges) to Municipality
of South Huron by cash, cheque, debit, preauthorized payment, telephone
banking, internet banking or through a financial institution (if applicable).
b) If two cheques are returned N.S.F. on any customers account, personal
cheques from that customer will no longer be accepted.
Part 4
Non-payment
4.1
Non-payment of fees and charges
Fees and charges imposed under this by-law on a person constitute a debt of
the person to the Municipality. Such charges have priority lien status and may
be collected in accordance with the Municipal Statutes Law Amendment Act,
2006, and may be added to the tax roll against the property in respect of which
the water service was supplied.
Multi-residential land leased properties with individual metering and tenant
accounts; the owner of the multi-residential land leased property shall be
responsible for payment of any tenant account that remains unpaid after sixty
Page 13 of 13
(60) days from the due date on the utility bill. Any unpaid tenant accounts shall
have priority lien status, and may be collected in accordance with the Municipal
Statutes Law Amendment Act, 2006, and may be added to the tax roll against
the property in respect of which the water service was supplied.
If a defaulted account cannot be collected in accordance with the Municipal
Statutes Law Amendment Act, 2006 and cannot be added to the tax roll against
the property in respect of which the water service was supplied, the defaulted
account shall be sent to a collection agency in accordance with the Municipal
collection policy for defaulted accounts. Receivables of $25.00 or more shall be
referred to a collection agency thirty (30) days after the third collection letter is
sent and the debtor has not responded. The debtor will be notified by letter that
the account is being referred to a collection agency and that future
correspondence should be with that agency.
Part 5
Previous By-law Repealed
5.1
Repeal - previous by-law, By-Law 66-2021
This by-law supersedes and replaces By-Law 66-2021, and amendments
thereto, related to rates and charges for water and wastewater services of the
Municipality of South Huron.
Part 6
Short Title
6.1
Short title
The short title of this by-law shall be the "Water and Wastewater Rates and
Charges By-Law".
Part 7
Effective date
7.1
Effective date
This by-law comes into force and effect on the date of final passing.
Read a first and second time this 16th day of March 2026
Read a third time and passed this 16th day of March 2026
George Finch, Mayor
Alex Wolfe, Clerk
By signing this By-Law on March 16, 2026, Mayor Finch will not exercise the power
to veto this By-Law as provided for under 284.11 of the Municipal Act.