Owen Sound Approves 5% Water Rate Hike Effective July 1, Maintains Wastewater Surcharge
Owen Sound water bills will rise 5% on July 1, with annual increases projected through 2029. Here’s how much more you’ll pay and why the City says it’s necessary.
Owen Sound residents can expect their water bills to increase starting July 1, 2025, following City Council’s approval of a 5% rate hike. The decision also maintains the existing wastewater surcharge at 124% of the water rate.
The increase means the average residential user — consuming 200 cubic metres of water annually — will see their combined water and sewer bill rise by approximately $6.70 per month, or about $80 per year.
The rate adjustment supports continued investment in the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure, which has a total replacement value of $971 million. These services are fully funded through user fees, not property taxes, as required under Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act.
City staff emphasized that the rate increase is necessary to cover rising operating costs, address aging infrastructure, and ensure regulatory compliance. The adjustment also helps contribute to reserve funds to buffer against unexpected future costs and avoid more dramatic increases in later years.
While the installation of new, more accurate water meters — expected to be completed by October 2025 — may result in increased billing revenue, staff advised that a reduction in rates would not be recommended due to the ongoing gap between capital needs and current levels of investment.
The Hemson Consulting rate study, commissioned by the City, forecasts average annual increases of approximately 4.4% over the next five years to sustain operations and capital renewal.
Though long-term wastewater surcharge reductions are anticipated, Council opted to maintain the current 124% level for 2025.
City staff will continue to review rates annually. A full capital and infrastructure review is scheduled for June 2025.
The amended rates will be formalized through an update to the City’s Fees and Charges By-law, and public notice will be issued in accordance with the City’s notice provisions.
Rate tables and the full water financial plan will be available on the City’s website.
No changes were made to the City’s current two-part billing structure, which includes a fixed fee based on meter size and a consumption-based charge that increases for higher usage tiers.
Related:
Looks like my water bill will soon be $1,000 a year. Not bad for a single senior whose fixed income goes up less than 5%. Does the Attack pay for water useage at the Bayshore for their games? Doing the arithmetic, 3,000 fans slurping beer needing washroom facilities several times a game, their water bill should be in the low six figures. It begats the question why should seniors pay through the nose and the millionaire owners of the Attack pay squat.