Frequently Asked Questions about Water

How do I set up a new water account?

The Township provides both water and wastewater services. To set up an account, please complete our online Account Setup Form. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the set-up of your account please contact Financial Services.

With this information Township staff will set up your new account and arrange for an initial reading on the water meter at your property.  You will be responsible for all consumption from that point onward and will be billed accordingly.

The normal billing cycle is every two months; however, depending on when you move in/take possession of your home, your first bill may arrive sooner. Please be aware that a $42.00 account Setup Fee will be added to your first Wilmot Water Bill.

I'm moving, how do I cancel my water account?

To cancel your account, please complete our Account Cancellation Form. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the cancellation of your account please contact Financial Services.

With this information Township staff will arrange for a final reading on the water meter at your property.  You will be responsible for all consumption up to that reading and will be billed accordingly.

Your final bill will be prepared and sent to you, along with a $42.00 Final Reading Charge, to the forwarding address provided by you at the beginning of the month following your move.

Please notify the Township of your move at least 7 days prior to the closing date so the necessary arrangement can be made for your final reading.

How can I pay my Wilmot water bill?

The Township offers a variety of payment methods including:  cash, cheque, debit, online banking and pre-authorized payment. Please visit our payment options page for more information.

What are the charges on my water bill?

The following is a description of the charges you may see on your water bill:

Water Charge - This charge is levied against your account if you are connected to the Township's water distribution system and is directly related to the amount of water you use (if you use no water there will be no charge).  This charge is used by the Township to recover costs that are incurred while supplying you with water (costs to purchase water from Region, testing/treatment costs, maintenance costs, etc).

Water Service Charge - This charge is levied against your account if you are connected to the Township's water distribution system.  The "Percentage of Full Charge" represents your pro-rated annual service charge based on the number of days in the billing period. This charge is used by the Township for future infrastructure replacement and is incurred regardless of how much water is used.

Wastewater Charge - This charge is levied against your account if you are connected to the Township's wastewater collection system and is directly related to the amount of water you use (if you use no water there will be no charge).  This charge is used by the Township to recover costs that are incurred for the removal of your wastewater (wastewater treatment, maintenance costs, etc).

Wastewater Service Charge - This charge is levied against your account if you are connected to the Township's wastewater distribution system.  The "Percentage of Full Charge" represents your pro-rated annual service charge based on the number of days in the billing period. This charge is used by the Township for future infrastructure replacement and is incurred regardless of how much wastewater is used.

All funds collected through your water and wastewater rates are used to maintain and operate the Township's water and wastewater systems.  These utilities receive no property tax funding.

My water bill is higher than normal, why?

The amount of your water bill is directly related to how much water you use. If your water bill has gone up, there is a good chance that one of the following situations has occurred:

Your consumption habits have changed:

Has your child returned from school?  Are you taking longer showers, or are you running the dishwasher or washing machine more often?  Small changes to your lifestyle can have a big impact on your water consumption.  If your water consumption is increasing you will see an increase in your water bill.

You have a water leak in your house:

Even the smallest leaks can significantly increase your water consumption so be sure to check your house for leaks.  The most common water leaks are:  dripping faucets (inside and outside), running toilets, running water softeners, leaking water heaters, reverse osmosis systems, and running dishwashers.  Other less common areas that may apply to you are furnace humidifiers and sprinkler systems.

Your water meter was misread:

While Township staff makes every effort to ensure your water meter readings are accurate, on occasion a mistake can be made.  If you feel your reading is too high simply check the reading on your water meter (usually located in your basement).  If you find a discrepancy between what is shown on your bill and what you read on your water meter (by the time you read your meter the reading should be higher than on your bill) please contact Financial Services and we will have someone investigate.  If the meter reading was inaccurate we will make the necessary adjustments to your bill.

What will the Township do if I don't pay my water bill?

If you do not pay your water bill by the due date, the Township will add a one-time, 2.5%, penalty charge to your account.

If you continue to not pay your water bill, the Township may take any of the following options, or combination thereof:

As outlined in Ontario's Municipal act, the Township may transfer any unpaid water or wastewater charges to your property's tax roll.  Once transferred, these charges will be treated as taxes and will be subject to penalties of 1.25% at the beginning of every month until they are paid.

As outlined in Ontario's Municipal act, the Township may terminate water service to your home if you have unpaid water and/or wastewater charges.  If the Township were to disconnect your service, it would remain disconnected until all outstanding charges were paid.

Through use of a third party collecting agency, the Township may also register any outstanding charges against your credit.

Please be aware that if any of these actions are taken against you, additional service and administration charges would be applied to your account.

When can I water my lawn?

The lawn watering rules in the Township of Wilmot are administered by the Region of Waterloo.  For information regarding the Region's "Outdoor Water Use" policies and restrictions please visit the Region of Waterloo website .