The Township of Woolwich provides municipal water and sanitary sewer within the serviced settlements. Every homeowner is responsible for maintaining the water and sanitary lines from the street to inside your home.
Olameter has been contracted by the Township of Woolwich to read your water meter. Employees of Olameter will have photo identification with them at all times and they do work 7 days a week. If you have any concerns please contact the Township of Woolwich.
If you are doing work inside your home and require the water to be shut off please contact Infrastructure Services staff a minimum of 48 hours before you intend to start the project.
Water Remote Reading Program
The Township of Woolwich is set to begin retrofitting existing water meters to a new Smart Radio. This new Smart Radio will enable the Township to remotely read water meters which will eliminate the need to physically attend the property of water customers. This program will only affect properties in Woolwich who are being supplied water from the Township. With KTI having completed the majority of installations in West Montrose, Maryhill, Heidelberg, Conestogo, St. Jacobs and Breslau, KTI is now mainly focused their installation efforts in Elmira.
Water Remote Reading - Additional Information
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Notice to Property Owners
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- Your property has been identified that your exterior water meter remote is scheduled for an upgrade
- There will be no cost to the customer for the equipment or installation
- KTI has been contracted by the Township to retrofit your water meter
- KTI employees can be identified with a KTI uniform, identification badge and will be driving vehicles displaying the company name and logo
KTI Limited is committed to ongoing safety and takes enhanced measures to keep everyone safe during the
installation process:
- Screened daily for symptoms, wear masks and sanitize their hands and tools
- Maintain physical distancing and no person-to-person contact
The installation work is required as part of the upgrade program and is deemed essential.
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Retrofitting existing water meters to a new Smart Radio
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- The radio will be mounted over your existing touch receptacle, located on the exterior of your property.
- All work will be conducted on the outside of the property, no appointment is required
- KTI will notify you of their arrival at your property. If you are not home KTI will move forward with the installation and leave a door hanger to provide a status of the installation and if any follow up is required
- If you are home, KTI will confirm that you agree with the installation and proceed with the work
- Installation will take place between 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday to Friday and take approximately 30-60 minutes
Any questions please contact the Township at 519-669-6000 or KTI 1-833-543-8807
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NOTE: There may be occasions through the installation process where the new Smart Radio may not be able to communicate with your water meter. If this is the case your water meter may need to be replaced (at no charge). This will involve KTI needing access to your water meter located in the interior of your home. If KTI needs to gain access to your home they will make arrangements directly with you to arrange a date and time that will be mutually agreeable. |
Water Billing
Request New Water Account
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| If you are on Municipal water, please complete the online form to set up your account. |
Final Water Reading Request
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| If you are moving you need to request final water reading for the last day of possession. This ensures that the account is transferred to the new occupants and they are billed for the water they use. The final bill, from your last regular reading date to the final reading date will be mailed to you at your new location. Complete the Final water reading submission form. |
Change of Tenancy Form
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| To notify our Water Department of a tenancy change please complete the Change of tenancy form. |
Water and Sewer Rates
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Your regular water bill consists of two parts:
- Usage charges based on your consumption; plus
- Reserve charges for infrastructure replacement based on the size of your water meter.
Usage Charges
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- Calculated per cubic meter or 220 gallons
- Note: not all areas are charged for both water and sewer
Rates as of March 1, 2023
| Charges |
Rates |
| Water Charges |
$1.89 per cubic meter |
| Sewer Charges |
$3.18 per cubic meter
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Bimonthly Capital Reserve Charges
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- Standard residential meter size is bolded in table below
- Charges are prorated for a partial or extended billing period
- Reserve charges still apply for minimal / no usage
Reserve Charges
| Meter Size |
Water |
Sewer |
Total |
| Up to 3/4" |
$26 |
$26 |
$52 |
| 1" to 11/4" |
$38 |
$38 |
$76 |
| 11/2" |
$64 |
$64 |
$128 |
| 2" |
$126 |
$126 |
$252 |
| 4" |
$505 |
$505 |
$1,010 |
| 6" to 8" |
$885 |
$885 |
$1,770 |
| 10" |
$1,263 |
$1,263 |
$2,526
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If this is your first bill at this location, your bill will also include the following charges:
- Account set up fee: $25 (non-refundable)
- Deposit: $150 (residential service) or $500 (business)
- Note: Your deposit will only be refunded if you are paying your bills on time and in full for six bills consecutively
Please pay promptly as penalty will be added at the rate of 1.25% on the first day of default, plus 1.25% each month thereafter.
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How to Pay your Water Bill
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Pre-authorized payment plan
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| Pre-authorized Debit (PAD) Program Application |
Banking institutions
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| The Township accepts payments through most banking institutions. Please register with your bank by using your seven digit account number located at the top of your water bill. |
By mail or in person
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Township of Woolwich
P.O. Box 158
24 Church St. West
Elmira, ON N3B 2Z6
Payment methods accepted:
- cash
- cheque (made payable to the Township of Woolwich)
- debit
Cheques may be dropped in the after hours drop box located on the corner of Church Street West and Maple Street.
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Online payment
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You can pay your water bill online using Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit, or Mastercard Debit.
You will need the following information:
- Your account number (6 numeric and 1 alpha digit account number on your water bill)
- A valid email address to email payment receipt
- The amount you wish to pay
- Your credit card or debit card
Please note that there is a convenience fee that is collected and paid to Paymentus for using the online payment system.
Payments can also be made over the telephone by calling toll free 1 866 278 6390
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eBilling for Water
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| The Township offers a secure online portal where you can view your water bill. Once you have created your account, you will be notified by email when a new water bill is ready for you to view.
You will no longer receive a paper copy of your bill when you sign up for eBilling.
To sign up for eBilling or to view your account, visit the eBilling portal.
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Why is my water bill suddenly very high?
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A sudden rise in your metered water bill amount may be due to several reasons including:
- Plumbing leaks in toilets, fixtures and or water softener
- An increase in the number of people living in the house, resulting in greater water usage
- A dry, hot summer resulting in higher water consumption
- Filling a swimming pool, hot tub, renovations or recent landscaping
- An increase in the number of days in the billing period
- Consecutive estimated water meter readings followed by an actual water meter reading
For tips on reducing water use at home and checking for leaks visit the Region of Waterloo website.
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Conserving Water, Lawn Watering, Backyard Pools and Hot Tubs
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Lawn Watering Rules
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Rules for watering lawns between May 31 to September 30 are as follows:
You can water your lawn one day a week. Lawn watering must take place on your assigned day from 5:30 am to 10:00 am and 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Addressed ending with a:
- 0 or 1 water lawns on Mondays
- 2 or 3 water lawns on Tuesdays
- 4 or 5 water lawns on Wednesdays
- 6 or 7 water lawns on Thursdays
- 8 or 9 water lawns on Fridays
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Lawn Watering Times
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For other outdoor activities, you can water every other day. Other outdoor watering does not include lawn water.
The last digit of your address determines your other outdoor activities watering days:
- Odd-numbered addresses can water on odd-numbered days
- Even-numbered addresses water on even-numbered days
- Watering must take place between 5:30 am to 10:00 am and 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
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Newly planted sod or seed
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Other outdoor watering activities include watering gardens, trees, shrubs and other outdoor plants, washing vehicles with a controlled hose or shut-off valve, and topping up of permanent residential pools.
To request additional watering times, before planting sod or seeding your lawn:
Contact the Region of Waterloo at 519-575-4400. Deaf and Hard of Hearing TTY call 519-575-4608 orcomplete the sod or seed watering application form to request additional watering times.
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Filling Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs
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| Rebates are not provided for filling swimming pools and hot tubs. |
Water Conservation and Using Less
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The Region of Waterloo oversees water conservation including:
- Lawn watering
- Rain barrels
- Multi-residential flapper replacement program (toilets can be the biggest source of water leaks & waste)
For tips on water conservation and expert advice using the Water Efficient Technology (WET) program, visit the Region of Waterloo's website.
You qualify for a free WET Home Water Review if your home uses more than 4.5 m3 of water per person per month (that translates to 150 litres per person per day).
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Municipal Water and Sewer
Municipal Water Systems
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The Township strives to provide safe and secure infrastructure for all residents. Water service is a two-tier system. Water from the ground and the Grand River is treated to drinking water standards by the Region of Waterloo and then delivered to your home, business or industry through the Township watermains. We share responsibility with the Region to regularly test water and ensure that we are meeting or exceeding the standards set out by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
There are currently 4 separate water distribution systems in the Township of Woolwich and these systems are categorized as large, based on population. Those four systems are: Breslau, Heidelberg, Maryhill and Woolwich North.
- The Breslau Distribution System receives water from the Kitchener Well Supply, which is part of the Integrated Urban System. The Integrated Urban System is owned and operated by the Region of Waterloo.
- The Heidelberg Distribution System receives water from the Heidelberg Well Supply System. The Heidelberg Well Supply System is owned and operated by the Region of Waterloo. The Heidelberg Distribution System also provides water to the Township of Wellesley.
- The Maryhill distribution system receives water from the Maryhill Well Supply, the Maryhill Well is owned and operated by the Region of Waterloo.
- The Woolwich North distribution system receives water from the Waterloo Well Supply, which is part of the Integrated Urban System. The Integrated Urban System is owned and operated by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. The Woolwich North distribution system includes parts of the Elmira, St. Jacobs, Conestogo, and West Montrose settlements.
The Township of Woolwich does not own or operate the water storage facilities servicing these systems.
The Township of Woolwich’s distribution system does not provide treatment to the water; therefore, there is no chlorine boosting, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, secondary disinfection, and pressure boosting or pressure control within the control of the water distribution system.
Copies of the the Township of Woolwich's QMS (Quality Management System) Operational Plan are available at the Township Office located at 24 Church St. West, Elmira ON at the Engineering counter.
Annual Drinking Water Summary Reports
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The Township monitors the water quality weekly across the water distribution systems and responds directly to customer inquiries and complaints.
The Township completes annual drinking water reports for each distribution system:
Annual drinking water summary reports are also completed by the Region of Waterloo, City of Waterloo and City of Kitchener for the respective water distribution systems.
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Quality Management System Policy
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Quality Management System Policy
The Township of Woolwich receives treated drinking water from the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and is responsible for the distribution of treated drinking water to consumers in:
Woolwich North Distribution System
Maryhill Heights and Isley Distribution System
Breslau Distribution System
Heidelberg Distribution System
The Corporation of the Township of Woolwich and the Water & Wastewater Operations Division are committed to:
- Providing safe drinking water by collaborating with our consumers and the Region of Waterloo
- Maintaining and improving the Quality Management System for the drinking water distribution systems
- Complying with all applicable legislation and regulations
- Communicating openly and effectively to the public concerning matters of drinking water quality
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Municipal Drinking Water Licence and Drinking Water Works Permit
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See below for the respective licences and permits for the Township's water systems:
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Lead Testing
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The Township has a proactive program that analyzes lead levels in our drinking water. This program meets The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) requirements for lead sampling of drinking water systems. The Township is currently within a reduced sampling / exemption period for lead testing.
If you require any additional information regarding lead, please visit our Lead Water Services webpage.
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Private Water Systems
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If you have a private water well, it is your responsibility as the homeowner to ensure the water is safe to consume and meets or exceeds Provincial standards.
For more information, please visit the Region of Waterloo's Drinking Water page.
Sample bottles are available at the Township Administration building, they can be picked up any day during the week but only returned to the office on Tuesday's.
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Water Pressure Issues
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You may experience low water pressure if there is hydrant flushing in your neighbourhood, or if work is being done to the watermains (this can be planned or emergency). However, low water pressure is usually related to your water softener or heater.
Low Water Pressure - Cold Water Only
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If low water pressure relates to your cold water, check to see if your water softener is working properly.
Look for:
- What time your water softener is set to cycle
- Whether your softener seems to be cycling continuously
- Whether there is water draining from your softener (often into a laundry or utility sink)
- Whether you see water leaking from the pipes leading into the softener
If any of the above apply, you can try switching the bypass valve (leading into the softener) to the "on" position. If the pressure is then restored when cold water is run to another tap, the issue is likely with your softener, and you may need to contact a plumber or your water softener provider for assistance.
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Low Water Pressure - Hot Water Only
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If low water pressure relates to your hot water, check to see if your water heater is working properly.
Look for:
- Whether you see water leaking from the pipes leading into your water heater
- Whether the valve for your water heater is fully open
If the pressure is not restored, you may need to contact a plumber or your water heater provider for assistance.
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Other Water Pressure Issues
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If you're noticing water pressure issues leading only to a few areas of your home, the issue may be relating to internal plumbing, such as a clogged pipe or debris in the water lines. You can also check whether the aerators on your sink, tub or shower faucets need to be cleaned. You may need to contact a plumber for assistance.
If you're unsure, you can also contact the Township (519-669-1647 ext. 6043) for guidance.
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Discoloured Water
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Some discoloration is expected after work to watermains is completed, or if you have been away from your home. The discolouration is from iron and manganese that occurs naturally in groundwater. Iron and manganese are not a health risk. The water is safe to drink; however, you should flush your lines until the water runs clear before you drink it.
If you're noticing discolouration, run the water from a tap close to your water meter for a few minutes. This will help flush the water through the pipes.
Also check if your water softener is working properly. Bright red or orange sediment coming through the taps could be the filter media from your water softener. In this case, you may need to contact a plumber or your water softener provider for assistance.
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Report a Problem
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| Please report any problems you may have with a municipal water or sanitary service. |
Sanitary Sewer
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The term "sewer lateral" refers to the length of pipe that runs from your building or home to the main municipal sanitary sewer line. The maintenance and repair of the entire sewer lateral is your responsibility.
If your sewer lateral is backed up please contact Infrastructure Services to evaluate the situation and determine how we can assist you or determine if you need to contact a plumber.
The Township of Woolwich - Corporate Sewer Lateral Policy
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Storm Sewer
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Storm sewers collect rain and run-off from melting snow on your property to help prevent flooding and redirect this wastewater to nearby storm water management ponds, creeks and lakes. To assist the Township is ensuring storm sewers do not get blocked, do not deposit debris or rake leaves onto the roadway.
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Source Water Protection
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| Information regarding the Source Protection Plan can be obtained from the Region of Waterloo. |
Water Softener Facts and Hardness
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| Information regarding water softeners and the hardness of the water in the area can be found at the Region of Waterloo's Water Softener Facts page. |
