Water and Sewer

The Town of Shelburne operates and maintains the municipal water distribution system and sewer collection system. Shelburne's municipal drinking water supply comes from groundwater wells and is stored in our water tower, ensuring water pressure and supply. We are committed to providing our residents with safe and clean drinking water. Review our water reports and releases to stay informed about water quality and sustainability. We manage our water and sewer utilities through the Water and Sewer By-law and Sewer Use By-Law 46-2009.

For after-hours emergencies, call 519-938-0124.

Pay your water bill online

Pay your water bill

Online payment

You can pay your water bill online using Visa or Mastercard. You will need the following information:

Your account number (5 digit customer number on your water bill)
The amount you wish to pay
Your credit card

Convenience fee

To pay your property taxes online, you will pay 1.75% of the amount owing as a convenience fee.

Telephone or online banking payment

You can pay your taxes using telephone or internet banking. To pay you will need to:

Set the Town of Shelburne as the payee
Enter the 5 digit customer number on your water bill as your account number

In person payment

Bring your bill and payment to Town Hall located at 203 Main St. E. You can pay your water bill in person by cash, cheque or debit. We are open from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

You can drop off your payment outside of our regular hours. Place your payment with bill stub in the night deposit box (brass mail slot) located at the employee entrance to Town Hall on Victoria St.

Pay at your bank

You can pay your water bill at your bank. You will need to go into your bank and speak with a teller in order to pay your bill. Make sure to have your bill with you.

Mail your payment

Make your cheque payable to the Town of Shelburne and mail it with your bill stub to:

Town Hall
203 Main St. E.
Shelburne, ON
L9V 3K7

Preauthorized payment

You can pay your water and sewer bill with ease by setting up a pre-authorized payment system. Fill out a pre-authorized payment form.

You may change or cancel your pre-authorized payment information at anytime by filling out change or cancel my pre-authorized payment information.

How is my water and sewer bill calculated?

Billing is sent out every two months and will consist of a fixed base rate and consumption charge for water and sewer. The amount of water that you use is measured by a water meter located at your residence. If a meter reading is unavailable, the invoice will reflect an estimated use based on past usage. The fixed base rate for water and sewer charges apply, even if you don't use any water. These fixed base charges are the minimum monthly charge for a water meter owned and read by the Town.

Water and sewer payment due dates

Your water and sewer payments are due on:

January 28, 2019
March 29, 2019
May 24, 2019
July 26, 2019
September 27, 2019
November 25, 2019

Due dates may be subject to change.

Water and sewer user rates

Please see our 2019 water and sewer user rates.

Water consumption charge (per cubic meter)
Cubic Meter Usage	2019 rate
000-220	0.60
221-690	0.66
690 and greater	0.76

Sewer consumption charge (per cubic meter)
Cubic Meter Usage	2019 rate
000-220	1.12
221-690	1.24
690 and greater	1.40

Water and Sewer fixed base rate charge by meter size
Size of Meter	Service	2019 monthly cost
5/8 inch	Water	$24.50
5/8 inch	Sewer	$24.50
3/4 inch	Water	$24.50
3/4 inch	Sewer	$24.50
1 inch	Water	$61.25
1 inch	Sewer	$61.25
1 1/4 inch	Water	$91.88
1 1/4 inch	Sewer	$91.88
1 1/2 inch	Water	$122.50
1 1/2 inch	Sewer	$122.50
2 inch	Water	$196.00
2 inch	Sewer	$196.00
3 inch	Water	$392.00
3 inch	Sewer	$392.00
4 inch	Water	$612.50
4 inch	Sewer	$612.50
6 inch	Water	$1,225.00
6 inch	Sewer	$1,225.00
8 inch	Water	$1,960.00
8 inch	Sewer	$1,960.00

Other fees and charges
Service	Cost
Sewer connection	$5,500
Water connection	$5,500
New meter kit (5/8 and 3/4 inch)	$775.00
New meter kit (1 inch)	$915.00
Water inspection fee	$40.00 plus HST
Sewer inspection fee	$40.00 plus HST
Water disconnect fee	$40.00
Water reconnect fee	$40.00
Water certificate	$35.00
Amount transferred to municipal taxes fee	$45.00
Temporary water supply – including hydrant connections	1.5 times the 2 inch water base charge by meter size

Water and sewer certificates and statements of accounts

To request a water or sewer certificate, your lawyer must write a letter requesting a certificate along with a $35.00 fee payable to the Town.

You can request a Statement of Accounts by email.

Penalty and interest charges

If any bill, including arrears, is not paid within thirty days after the date mailed, or within thirty days of the date shown on the bill, whichever is later, arrears shall be subject to a late payment charge equal to 1.25%.

Change your address

You need to notify the Town if you change your address. Complete our address change form to update your information with the Town of Shelburne.

Change of ownership

To change ownership, please beware of the following:

The existing water/sewer account stays with the property
A water/sewer certificate is recommended to adjust the existing water/sewer account
Confirmation of closing from the lawyer or a transfer deed is required to change ownership

Water leaks

Leaks can waste money and water. If you suspect a leak, use your water meter to find it. Common culprits are:

Toilet flapper valve
Dripping tap
Feed to a washing machine or a softener with a pin hole leak

Many of these are silent offenders. Be proactive and check for leaks a few times a year.

water meter Check your meter face for the low flow indicator on the front. If there is no water being used in the house, but the dial is turning that could mean water is being lost through a leak. Utilize the water shut off valve on each appliance to find the leak.

New water meters are equipped with a digital screen. When water is flowing through the water meter a positive (+) sign will display on the digital screen. If this occurs when no water is being used that could mean water is being lost through a leak. Utilize the water shut off valve on each appliance to find the leak.

Why is my water discoloured?

Your water may be discolored due to the flushing of watermains which occurs twice annually, in the spring and fall. Flushing watermains will release the buildup of iron and minerals and cause water to change colour.

What can you do?

Customers in the area being cleaned are cautioned to refrain from drawing any water for any purpose until the cleaning of that section of watermain is completed. Put water softeners on bypass to prevent recycling during the process to avoid excessive amounts of iron or manganese through the media filter. Leave off for several hours after the prescribed outage.

When water is restored run a cold water tap in the laundry tub or bath tub for 5 – 10 minutes to clear the water service from the street into your building.

If the hot water is discoloured, it might be time to flush your hot water tank.

Water pressure

Most incidents of poor water pressure are caused by clogged pipes. Please check all shutoff valves (near the meter) to make sure they are fully open. If you suspect low water pressure contact a plumber to investigate. The Town's Water Operator is not a licensed plumber, but can check the water meter to ensure it is not blocked.

Watermain breaks

Watermain breaks may happen if there is external corrosion of the watermain pipe. Fluctuating weather changes may also cause the ground to swell and put undue pressure on weakened mains. Signs to look for are:

Water pooling or flowing above ground
Reduced water pressure in your home

If you suspect there is a watermain break in your neighbourhood contact: 519-925-2600 ext. 231 from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 519-938-0124 (after hours)

Frozen water pipes

Frozen water pipes can be a real nuisance and, in some instances, may cause water to stop running to your home. Before you can fix the problem, you need to locate where the pipe is frozen. If the frozen pipe is on your property, it is your responsibility to fix the issue.

Call a plumber to help assess the damage and locate the issue. Alternatively, you can call the Town of Shelburne Water department at:

519-925-2600 ext. 231 (Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
519-938-0124 (after hours)

Review our frozen water service fact sheet for a full list of tips and guidelines to help you deal with frozen water pipes.

Thaw the pipe

If the frozen pipe is located inside, you may be able to thaw the pipe. Turn on the tap closest to the frozen pipe and begin warming the pipe as close to the tap as possible. If you notice any leaks in the pipe, call a plumber immediately.

To thaw pipes correctly they should be warmed slowly and evenly to prevent the pipes from bursting. Try using the following methods to warm your water pipes:

warm towels
space heater to warm the room

To prevent pipes bursting avoid using the methods listed below

Propane heater or open flame (such as a blow torch, candle or lighter)
Hair dryer
Heating pad
Space heater
Other electric appliance

Water conservation

Try these tips to reduce your water usage and increase water sustainability:

Sweep your driveway and walkways instead of washing them with water
Avoid wasting water by positioning sprinkles so they don't spray on driveways and sidewalks
Water your lawn in the morning or evening
Don't apply more than 25 mm of water to your lawn per week
Landscape with plants that are native to the region and can tolerate drought conditions
Check your toilet for leaks regularly
Don't flush garbage down the toilet
Use high efficiency showerheads and limit shower times to five minutes
Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads
Use a rain barrel to collect water and use that for flower beds and gardens
Wash your car with water in a bucket and use a hose with a shut-off nozzle to avoid waste.

For the months of June, July and August if your home address ends with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), you can water your lawn, gardens, trees and shrubs on odd-numbered dates of the month.

If your home address ends with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8), you can water your lawn, trees, gardens and shrubs on even-numbered dates of the month.

Water reports

We prepare these reports to comply with the Ontario Clean Water Agency. View our Annual Water System Reports for information about water usage and sustainability:

Review our Drinking Water Summary Reports for information about the safety of our drinking water:

Waste water treatment reports

Wastewater treatment reports review the facility and operation of the Waste Water Treatment facility located in the Town of Shelburne. Review our reports to see how we perform.

Media releases and notices

Periodically, we will conduct studies and assessments to research into our water quality and sustainability. Check out our media releases and notices to stay informed!

Bulk water fill

Hydrant connection is forbidden, unless written permission has been received from the Town Water and Sewer department. Contractors, please complete the temporary use of hydrant application form.

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