Water and Sewer

Should you have a Public Works Emergency or are concerned about your drinking water or sanitary sewer, please call 613-257-2253.

For questions regarding your water bill, please contact Jennifer Muoka at 613-257-6218 or jmuoka@carletonplace.ca.

2023 Water and Sewer Budget

Staff presented the draft 2023 Water and Sewer budget to the public for comment at the January 10th, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting. The draft includes a proposed 1.95% increase to water and sewer rates which will result in a total charge of $990.96 per year for a residential property with one (1) or two (2) people, an increase of $18.96 per year ($1.58 per month) over 2022 rates.

The public will have the opportunity to provide input on the proposed rate increase until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13th, 2023. The presentation is available in pdf form or you can rewatch the presentation made during the Committee of the Whole meeting (presentation starts around the 42-minute mark). Please email tmcconkey@carletonplace.ca with any comments before the January 13th deadline. The final decision on the proposed rate increase will be made by Council at its regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 17th, 2023.

Water and Sewer Rates (effective the first quarterly billing in 2022)

Please Note: As per section 1.2 in the water rates By-law 97-2020 - “Property owners are responsible for ensuring that they are being invoiced for the correct number of people and/or the correct services. When new residential accounts are established, they will be set up with the 3-5-person full-service rate unless written communication is received from the property owner. Corrections will only be made as of the date the Town is notified, in writing, of any discrepancy. Changes will not be backdated under any circumstances”.

Quarterly Rate Description	Full Service	Full Service Less: Outside Taps	Full Service Plus Private Swimming Pool
1 or 2 persons	$247.74	$221.92	$282.46
3 to 5 persons	$260.22	$234.46	$294.96
6, 7 or 8 persons	$272.86	$247.16	$307.58
9 or 10 persons	$281.12	$255.14	$315.82
Additional persons	$5.88	$5.88	$5.88

By-law No. 131-2021 - Regulating water rates in Carleton Place for 2022.

Water Due Dates

Due on the first business day of the following months:

February
May
August
November

Useful Reports and Documents

General Description of System

The sanitary sewer collection system and water distribution system includes manholes, water valves and chambers, and fire hydrants.

The operation and maintenance of the Water Treatment Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plant, wastewater pumping stations, and Water Tower is contracted by the Town of Carleton Place to the Ontario Clean Water Agency.

Chlorinated Water

The Town of Carleton Place prides itself on maintaining our municipal infrastructure from roads and sidewalks to our underground infrastructure. The Town of Carleton Place utilizes the Mississippi River as our water source and the water needs to be treated to make it safe for drinking. The Ontario Clean Water Agency is responsible for the operation of our Water Treatment Plant and the Town of Carleton Place overseas the drinking water distribution system.

In Carleton Place, chlorine is used as a primary disinfectant during the water treatment process to kill and destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, and other water-borne pathogens. As a result, residents may notice a slight odour of chlorine in their water. Homes closer to the water treatment plant may have a stronger odour and chlorine levels are usually lower in the far ends of the distribution system. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) set out by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks states that the chlorine in drinking water must optimally be between 1 and 3 milligrams per litre (mg/L). Chlorine levels up to 4 mg/L are considered safe in drinking water. The Town of Carleton Place’s drinking water system typically has an average of 1.0-1.50 mg/L range of chlorine.

Using or drinking water with small amounts of chlorine does not cause harmful health effects and provides protection against waterborne disease outbreaks. Water quality, including chlorine levels, is monitored on a continual, 24-hour basis to ensure safe drinking water is provided to consumers at all times within the Town of Carleton Place.

In order to alleviate chlorine taste and odour concerns, residents can fill a pitcher, preferably glass, with water and let it stand overnight in the refrigerator to assist with dissipating some of the residual chlorine.

For more information regarding chlorine levels in the drinking water system:

Please review our Annual Report
Ontario Regulation 170/03 (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/030170)
Please contact the Public Works Department for further information at (613) 257-2253.

Town of Carleton Place Sewer and Water Lateral Policies

The Town also assumes responsibility for the structural integrity of sewer and water services from the main lines to the property line. The property owner is responsible for sewer and water services from the property line to the house. The exception to this policy is if there is a blockage in a sewer lateral, it is the property owner's responsibility from the house to the mainline. This is in place as the house is the only source that a blockage can originate from.

This same principle would apply for a water service that is leaking, the Town assumes responsibility if the pipe is leaking from the mainline to the property line. The property owner is responsible from the property line to the house. The exception is if the water line is frozen, the Town will provide assistance to thaw the frozen line as it is difficult to determine where the line has actually frozen. The Town may discontinue the provision of this service if the Town undertakes remedial action to ensure the portion of the water line on the Town property is adequately protected from ground frost, and the property owner does not undertake similar remedial action.

Drinking Water Quality Management System

In May 2000, the Walkerton municipal drinking water system became contaminated with E.Coli. Seven people lost their lives and thousands more became ill. The Provincial government launched an inquiry led by Justice O'Connor and his findings changed the water industry. In Part 2 of his report, he recommended the implementation of a quality management system for the municipal drinking water system (DWQMS). The Town of Carleton Place has since implemented a Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) for our drinking water system. The DWQMS ensures there are policies and procedures in place to effectively manage and continually improve our drinking water system. Our DWQMS Policy statement states this following:

The Town of Carleton Place has developed and implemented a Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) for the Class 1 drinking water distribution system owned and operated by our Town.

The Town of Carleton Place Public Works Department, its Management, and entire staff are committed to the principles and objectives set out in our Quality Management System (QMS) Policy.

The Town of Carleton Place is committed to provide safe drinking water to our residents.

In order to achieve this goal, The Town of Carleton Place has developed and is committed to ongoing maintenance and continual improvement of this Quality Management System.

Our Management and designated staff will remain committed to achieve compliance with all applicable legislation and regulations.

Our Management and entire staff will act to ensure the implementation of this Policy and will monitor progress of the Quality Management System (Q

If you have any questions or would like to view the Operational Plan for the Distribution System, please contact the Public Works office, 613-257-2253.

Safe Drinking Water Act Section 14(4)

In accordance with Section 14(4) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, should any resident of Carleton Place wish to view the Service Agreement between the Town of Carleton Place and the Ontario Clean Water Agency, please call 613-257-2253 to make an appointment to view the agreement.