Rates and fees

New rate structure

The City of Ottawa’s new rate structure is effective 01 April 2019. It includes water and wastewater charges based on consumption, and fixed charges to reflect the cost of supporting and maintaining our water, wastewater, stormwater and fire supply infrastructure.

Watch a video on the new rate structure below.

Transcript for 'Water, Wastewater and Stormwater' video

Consumption Rates

Your monthly drinking water and wastewater rates vary based on four tiers of water consumption:

• Tier 1 – up to 6m3

• Tier 2 – >6m3 to 25m3

• Tier 3 – >25m3 to 180m3

• Tier 4 – > 180m3

To encourage water conservation, fees are lowest for Tier 1 and increase with each tier. For example, if you consume 10m3, the first 6m3 will be calculated at the Tier 1 rate, and the next 4m3 will be calculated with at the Tier 2 rate.

Each customer’s tier allowance resets every 30 days. However, water utility bills are issued once every two months.

Fixed charges

Under the new rate structure, annual flat fees for water, wastewater and fire supply are based on a property’s meter size. Stormwater fees are based on property type, determined by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. These annual fixed charges are prorated on each bill based on the number of days in the billing period. That means every bill has a minimum charge - even when no water is consumed during the billing period.

Water utility rates

Water utility rates - Effective 01 April 2020

Annual Fixed Rates

Residential annual fixed rates are listed below, and will be pro-rated on the water utility bill based on the number of days billed.

Water, Wastewater and Fire Supply

Meter Size	Water	Wastewater	Fire Supply
15mm	$124.10	$105.85	$48.15

Urban Stormwater

Property Type	Service	Rate
Single & Semi Detached	Connected	$140.65
Townhome & Apartment	Connected	$ 70.33
Single & Semi Detached	Non-Connected	$ 98.46
Townhome & Apartment	Non-Connected	$ 49.23

Rural Stormwater

Property Type	Service	Rate
Single & Semi Detached	Connected	$140.65
Townhome & Apartment	Connected	$ 70.33
Single & Semi Detached	Non-Connected	$ 70.33
Townhome & Apartment	Non-Connected	$ 35.16

Consumption Rates (Per m³) – All Properties – resets every 30 days

Tier	Volume	Water	Wastewater	Combined
Tier 1	up to 6m3	$0.83	$0.75	$1.58
Tier 2	>6 m3 - 25m3	$1.65	$1.49	$3.14
Tier 3	>25m3 - 180m3	$1.82	$1.65	$3.47
Tier 4	>180m3	$2.03	$1.85	$3.88

Water Meter Rates

For rates for all meter sizes, see the rate supported budget.

Water billing rate increase - 2020

Water billing rates increasing April 1, 2020

Ottawa City Council approved a five-percent overall increase for water, wastewater and stormwater rates in the 2020 budget. This increase will allow the Ottawa Water Program to remain fully self-funded and financially stable for its operating and capital needs.

The 2020 water rate insert provides further details and graphics outlining the increase.

Why are rates increasing?

Water, wastewater and stormwater services are fully funded through charges on the water bill. The rates charged represent the City’s commitment to provide residents with high-quality drinking water while reducing the risk of flooding and renewing existing infrastructure. The 2020 rate increase reflects the inflationary increase in operating expenses, as well as the costs for new or upgraded water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

The City of Ottawa’s drinking water is among the safest and highest quality in the world. Annual reports on water quality on the annual reports drinking water page.

Rate Increase Timeline

2017	5.8%
2018	5.5%
2019	5.5%
2020	5%
2021	4.8%

What impacts the cost of water services?

Extensive resources are needed to provide water, stormwater and wastewater services to Ottawa residents. The City delivers water and sewer services that consider:

Public health protection
Environmental protection
Provincial legislation, regulations and standards
Economic development
Infrastructure renewal and rehabilitation

What your charges pay for

Water production, distribution,collection and treatment	27%
Engineering, planning, and client servicing	17%
Infrastructure renewal	56%

The City maintains drinking water, wastewater and stormwater assets, including 10,400 km of water, sanitary, combined and storm sewer pipes, two water purification plants, a sewage treatment plant, six communal well systems, 94 water and wastewater remote facilities and more than 6,000 culverts. The City operates and maintains 316 stormwater facilities and approximately 6,000 km of roadside ditches that collect excess water to protect roads and properties.

Fees

Fee

Description

2020

2021

New Account

Charged when setting up a new water account

$72.50

$75

Change of Ownership / Occupancy

Each time the name on the account changes, it is considered to be a change of ownership / occupancy

$44

$46

Account History / Bill Reprint

Should you require an account history / bill reprint, please send us your request in writing. Please mail your request and payment to Revenue Services, 100 Constellation Drive, 4th Floor East, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8.Alternatively, forms are located at all City of Ottawa Client Service Centres where payment for service can be made in-person

$38.75

Credit Card / Debit

The secure third-party payment service provider, Paymentus Corporation, charges a service fee for online payments using a credit card or debit banking card

1.99%

Interac Payment

The secure third-party payment service provider, Paymentus Corporation, charges a service fee for online payments using Interac online payments

$0.49

Payment Distribution

If you have moved or you have more than one water utility account, you must ensure all your water utility accounts have been individually set up for internet / telephone banking or when making a payment at your financial institution. This fee is charged when a payment has to be transferred from one account to another

$28.50

$29

Returned PAD Payment

If your payment cannot be processed or is not otherwise honoured by the bank you will be charged for each account the payment was originally applied to

$35

$36

Returned Cheque Payment

If your payment cannot be processed or is not otherwise honoured by the bank you will be charged for each account the payment was originally applied to

$47

$48

Late Payment / Interest

A penalty for late payment is added the day following the due date and daily thereafter until the account is paid. Interest is applied after the due date, every 15 days thereafter and before each bill

0.0417% daily

Reminder Notice

To cover the production, mailing and administrative costs associated with issuing a reminder notice

$8.15

$8.40

Water Termination Notice

Fees to issue and manually deliver a final notice of water service termination

$44

Transfer to Tax

Accounts left unpaid after the second consecutive billing will be transferred to the corresponding tax account and will incur an administrative fee

$44

$45.50

Water Shut-Off and Turn-On

A fee to shut-off and turn-on water service for nonpayment will be charged to the property's water bill

$98

$101

Water and Sewer Arrears Certificate

Anyone can apply for a Water and Sewer Arrears Certificate, which is a statement of outstanding charges on a water and sewer account

$72.50

Refund Processing

To cover the cost of refunding credits to customers when credits are not the result of an error by the City

$28.50

$29

Water Consumption Report

Water consumption monthly, daily and even hourly can be viewed on your water account by logging onto your MyServiceOttawa account. If you require a consumption report, an administrative fee applies

$41

$42

Water Deferral Application

A non-refundable fee is charged to the tax account upon receipt of the initial application.

$144

$148

Water Deferral Renewal Application

A non-refundable fee is charged to the tax account for subsequent year applications.

$51

$52

*Note: All Fees are subject to annual review by Council.