Understanding Your Water and Wastewater Bill

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.

Yes, for 2025 the wastewater rates did increase. The average Port Colborne resident will pay approximately $104.78 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 credit for residents on guaranteed income supplement (GIS) in the amount of $244 yearly as well as a  one-time credit of $25 for anyone that is registered or registers for pre-authorized payment (PAP) and a one-time credit of $15 for anyone that signs up for e-billing. 

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