Frequently Asked Questions

 Why did the City move to a monthly water and wastewater bill in 2021?
Port Colborne water and wastewater bills were previously distributed on a quarterly basis. At the request of many residents and to mirror other utility models, like hydro and gas, the City has now spread payments out over 12 months instead of four. Residents will now receive a water bill each month. 
 Did water rates increase this year?
Yes, for 2024 the water rates did  increase.  The average Port Colborne resident will pay approximately $38.28 per month for Fixed Water charges.  

  Can the City lower water rates? 
It is possible for water rates to be lower in the future, however the City of Port Colborne will need to invest and upgrade infrastructure. In the meantime, this could still require rates to increase. Improving infrastructure is a priority for Council and an infrastructure needs assessment is currently underway. A preliminary report will be presented in August to provide key insights into what infrastructure needs to be updated first. 
Why did the fixed / volume wastewater billing model change to an all fixed model this year? 

Since the City first installed water meters in the 1990s, wastewater has been billed the same way as water, with an annualized fixed charge and a volume rate per cubic meter. With no reliable way to meter (or monitor) the wastewater leaving a property, the water meter read was used to calculate the volume-based wastewater portion of each wastewater bill. The City has heard from residents over the years voicing their concern with this billing structure, stating that water is used for variety of purposes that never reaches the wastewater (sewer) system.  For example, it is used to water the garden, lawn or wash a car and even fill up a pool.  

Just for greater clarity, the City’s water is obtained from the Niagara Region water plant and all wastewater is sent to the Niagara Region wastewater plant to be cleaned.  The Niagara Region charges the City for the water used and wastewater cleaned.

After reviewing water data, the City discovered it was sending 73% more wastewater back to the Niagara Region wastewater plant then clean water it was purchasing from the Niagara Region water plant.  Said another way, for every 1 cubic meter of water the City of Port Colborne purchases from the Niagara Region to distribute through our water system, the City sends back 1.73 cubic meters of wastewater to the Niagara Region to be cleaned.

The culprit is water, known as inflow and infiltration, entering the City’s aged wastewater system. The net result is the City found that approximately 15% of the wastewater charge in the historical billing model that included a fixed rate and volume component was due to water usage.  As a result, a decision was made to move to a 100% fixed rate access model on residential properties with a ¾” meter or less. 

Going forward this will mean that users of water will not be penalized based on usage to pay for the wastewater system when the costs of the system are currently not driven by usage.
 Did wastewater charges increase this year? 

Yes, wastewater rates did increase this year. The average Port Colborne resident will pay approximately $93.56 per month for wastewater on a fixed rate system.

 

For residents on Guaranteed Income Supplement (see Q&A below) there is a credit that can be applied to that will effectively eliminate this increase.  There is also a credit available for signing up for pre-authorized payment.

What is the City doing to lower wastewater costs in the future? 

It is possible for wastewater rates to be lower in the future, however the City of Port Colborne will need to invest and upgrade infrastructure. In the medium term this could still require rates to increase.  Improving the infrastructure is a priority for Council and an infrastructure needs assessment is currently underway. A preliminary report will be presented in August to provide key insights into what infrastructure needs to be updated first.

In addition to upgrading the infrastructure, growth within the City of Port Colborne, whether it be residential, commercial, or industrial can also be very impactful as it shares the cost of the system over more users.        

Are there any water or wastewater grants/credits that a resident can apply for?

Yes, a new credit for residents on guaranteed income supplement (GIS) in the amount of $244 was introduced along with a new one-time credit of $25 for anyone that is registered or registers for pre-authorized payment (PAP) in 2022.

Please call City Hall at 905-835-2900 for assistance in applying.  We can even send you a paper application.
When does the GIS credit come into effect and how do I apply?

The GIS credit is effective immediately.  A resident can learn more about applying online. For anyone receiving the GIS credit their year over year change in their water and wastewater bill will effectively be zero and in many cases will result in a savings. 

Please call City Hall at 905-835-2900 for assistance in applying.  We can even send you a paper application.

How does a resident apply for the pre-authorized payment credit?

These will be applied automatically to your next water bill.  A resident can apply for pre-authorized payment online.

Port Colborne residents that sign up for the water and wastewater pre-authorized monthly payment will receive a one-time credit of $25.

Please call City Hall at 905-835-2900 for assistance in applying.  We can even send you a paper application.