Drinking water programs

Save money and water with the City’s High Volume User (HVU) Program. The HVU Program offers rebates to property owners for installing eligible water efficient toilets, urinals, spray valves and commercial dishwashers and washing machines.

What are the benefits?

Inefficient use of water increases utility costs and places undue stress on the environment. These negative outcomes can often be avoided by retrofitting inefficient fixtures with devices which use less water while providing equal or superior performance. The HVU program aims to offset the costs when retrofitting water fixtures by providing rebates. Find out how these Ottawa organizations benefitted from the High Volume User Program:

• Ottawa Community Housing Bank Street location cut $78,000 from its annual water bill
• Osgoode Properties sees return on investment eight months after installing water efficient toilets
• Ramphos Holdings Inc. saves money with water efficient toilets and washing machines

Are you eligible?

The business or facility must be built before 1996, located in the City of Ottawa and be either:

An industrial, commercial or institutional property consuming a minimum of  25,000 m³ of water per year

or

A multi-residential property with six or more units.

Ready to apply?

1. Complete the Screening and Application form [ PDF - 196 KB].
2. Before removing old fixtures and appliances, take photos of what is being replaced.
3. Send completed form and photos for review to:

WaterWise Coordinator
City of Ottawa 
951 Clyde Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1Z 5A6

Once your application has been approved, you will receive more information about next steps.

Frequently asked questions

Which toilet should I purchase?

Review the maximum performance (MaP) testing information to ensure the toilets you are considering meet the HVUP criteria. Toilet selection will be reviewed by the City as part of the screening form review and approval process.

What dollar rebate values are available?

Qualifying applications may receive:

• Toilets: $50 rebate for single-flush and dual flush high-efficiency toilets
• Urinals: $60 rebate for 3.8L or less; $75 rebate for waterless urinals
• Spray valves: 50% of the pre-tax price, to a maximum of $200
• Commercial dishwashers and washing machines: 25% of the pre-tax price, to a maximum of $1,000

The total maximum rebate is $10,000 per tax roll number.

Is there a deadline for completing the work?

After a project is approved, applicants must complete the work within 18 months.

Questions?

Contact the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1 or send an e-mail to: waterwise@ottawa.ca.

High Volume User success stories

Find out how local property owners have benefitted from the High Volume User Program.

Ottawa Community Housing

In 2011, the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCH) installed 144 water-efficient toilets at a facility located on Bank Street.

Water conserved:	~20,000 m3 of water/year
Rebate received:	$7,200 rebate
Return on investment:	1 year
Annual savings:	~$78,000

Osgoode Properties

In 2011, Osgoode Properties installed 122 water-efficient toilets in their building.

Water conserved:	~14,000 m3 of water/year
Rebate received:	$6,100 rebate
Return on investment:	8 months
Annual savings:	~$54,000

Ramphos Holdings Inc.

From 2011-2012, Ramphos Holdings Inc. installed 18 water-efficient toilets and 2 water-efficient washing machines.

Water conserved:	~400 m3 of water/year
Rebate received:	$1,643 rebate
Return on investment:	Five years
Annual savings:	~$1,500

The City of Ottawa’s Water Services completes preventative water main maintenance to ensure the continued efficient delivery of safe drinking water to your community.

What is cathodic protection?

Cathodic protection is a process that involves attaching a series of magnesium rods (or "anodes") to the outside of a metallic water main or water service to provide corrosion protection to the water main.

 

Why are we doing it?

With age, metal pipes corrode and eventually break. Cathodic protection helps prevent this process by transferring the corrosion from the outside of the water main to a “sacrificial” anode.

Why was my street selected?

The City analyzed the frequency and severity of water main breaks in Ottawa over a five year period. From this analysis, locations were identified and prioritized. 

How is it done?

Work crews drill a series of 30 cm (1 foot) diameter holes on City property and insert magnesium (sacrificial) anodes beneath the ground. The anodes are connected together by a wire which is attached to your water service.

Will cathodic protection be added to all water mains?

No. Cathodic protection is for metallic pipes. Today, most water mains are made from PVC.

How will this work impact residents?

• There will be noise associated with the work.
• The installation process takes minutes and holes are refilled the same day.
• Traffic and pedestrian impacts are minimal.
• Work is done on the outside of the pipe, so water quality and pressure are not affected.

When will the work take place?

The work starts in May and finishes in early-August. Work takes place between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Questions or concerns

For more information, please contact the City’s Water Information Line by phone at 613-580-2424, extension 22300 or by email at info-water@ottawa.ca.

2020 work schedule

Ward	Street	From	To
1	Vineyard Dr	Voyageur Dr	Jeanne d'Arc Blvd
1	Lefebvre Way	Prestone Dr.	Tompkins Ave.
1	Gadwell Crt	Kingfisher Cres	Kingfisher Cres
2	Des Merles Lane	Tooney Dr	Des Epinette Ave
2	Meadowfield Pl	Meadowglen Dr	Meadowglen Dr
2	Montereau Ave.	Meadowglen Dr	Montereau Ave
2	Morningview St	Frank Bender St	Des Epinettes Ave
2	Ridgelea Pl.	Rivercrest Dr	Forest Valley Dr
2	Rosewind Crt.	Windflower Way	Orleans Boulevard
2	Sansonnet St.	Willowbark Dr	Windflower Way
2	Silver Bark Ave.	Des Epinettes Ave	Dead End
2	Windflower Way	La Chapelle St	Sansonnet St
2	Hoylake Cres	Duford Rd	Gleneagles Ave
2	White St	Renaud Rd	Dead End
8	Fieldrow St	Viewmount Dr	Perry St
11	Rothwell Dr	Whippoorwill Dr	Cedar Rd
11	Wick Cres	Rothwell Dr	Rothwell Dr
11	Donovan Crt	Clovelly Rd	Dead End
11	Oriole Dr.	Rebecca Cres	Delong Dr
19	Arc-en-Ciel St.	Gardenway Dr	Northampton Dr
19	Lafrance Dr.	Des Epinettes Ave	Lamoureux Dr
19	Legrand Cres.	Wildflower Dr	Wildflower Dr
19	Diamond Way	Saphir Ave	Navan Rd
19	Jade Lane	Topaze Ave	Dead End
19	Saulnier Lane	Jade Lane	Turquoise Cres
19	Topaze Ave	Diamond Way	Turquoise Cres
19	Turquoise Cres	Topaze Ave	Dead End
23	Amundsen Cres	Chimo Dr	Chimo Dr
23	Appaloosa Dr	Palomino Dr	Palomino Dr
23	Beaufort Dr	Chimo Dr	Katimavik Rd
23	Belleview Dr	Vanstone Dr	Pickford Dr
23	Black Rivers Pl	Bridle Park Dr	Dead-End
23	Bluegrass Dr	Foxleigh Cres	Equestrian Dr
23	Bluemeadow Way	Willow Glen Dr	Willow Glen Dr
23	Bramblewood Cres	Stonemeadow Dr	Stonemeadow Dr
23	Brandy Creek Cres	Pine Hill Dr	Pine Hill Dr
23	Bridle Park Dr	Bridgestone Dr	Stonemeadow Dr
23	Bridlewood Dr	Stonehaven Dr	Steeple Chase Dr
23	Brodeur Cres	Beaufort Dr	Beaufort Dr
23	Bylot Crt	Bernier Terr	Dead-End
23	Byrd Cres	Chimo Dr	Chimo Dr
23	Cadence Gate	Eagleson Rd	Equestrian Dr
23	Cedarock Dr	Stonehaven Dr	Bridgestone Dr
23	Chickasaw Cres	Palomino Dr	Palomino Dr
23	Chimo Dr	Katimavik Rd	Katimavik Rd
23	Dartmoor Dr	Palomino Dr	Shetland Way
23	Equestrian Dr	Bridgestone Dr	Bridgestone Dr
23	Fessenden Way	Jarlan Terr	McCurdy Dr
23	Foxleigh Cres	Equestrian Dr	Equestrian Dr
23	Furlong Cres	Stonehaven Dr	Stonehaven Dr
23	Hanover Crt	Cedarock Dr	Dead-End
23	Harmon Way	Shearer Cres	Pickford Dr
23	Hawley Cres	Willow Glen Dr	Willow Glen Dr
23	Hearst Way	Whitney Dr	Katimavik Rd
23	Herschel Cres	Beaufort Dr	Beaufort Dr
23	Huntings End Ave	Bluemeadow Way	Bridlewood Dr
23	Huntsman Cres	Equestrian Dr	Equestrian Dr
23	Inuvik Cres	Chimo Dr	Chimo Dr
23	Marcasite Rd	West Dead-End	Belleview Dr
23	McClure Cres	Chimo Dr	Chimo Dr
23	Millman Crt	Pickford Dr	Dead-End
23	Pacer Pl	Stable Way	Dead-End
23	Palomino Dr	Eagleson Rd	Eagleson Rd
23	Parsons Ridge Rd	Young Rd	McCurdy Dr
23	Peterson Pl	Robarts Cres	Dead-End
23	Pine Hill Dr	Partridge Dr	Stonehaven Dr
23	Pineview Rd	Vanstone Dr	Belleview Dr
23	Pommel Cres	Equestrian Dr	Equestrian Dr
23	Redfox Pl	Equestrian Dr	Dead-End
23	Rein Terr	Equestrian Dr	Saddlehorn Cres
23	Riding Way	Equestrian Dr	Huntsman Cres
23	Rosethorn Way	Bluemeadow Way	Bridlewood Dr
23	Saddlehorn Cres	Equestrian Dr	Equestrian Dr
23	Shannondoe Cres	Stonemeadow Dr	Stonemeadow Dr
23	Shetland Way	Palomino Dr	Dead-End
23	Silver Horse Cres	Equestrian Dr	Equestrian Dr
23	Speers Cres	Bridlewood Dr	Bridlewood Dr
23	Springtree Pl	Cedarock Dr	Dead-End
23	Stable Way	Equestrian Dr	Equestrian Dr
23	Stirrup Pl	Equestrian Dr	Dead-End
23	Sulky Way	Bluegrass Dr	Bluegrass Dr
23	Tower Hill Cres	Bridlewood Dr	Bridlewood Dr
23	Trotting Way	Equestrian Dr	Foxleigh Cres
23	Vanstone Dr	Marcasite Rd	Kakulu Rd
23	Willow Glen Dr	Stonehaven Dr	Bridlewood Dr