Understanding Your Water Bill

Here’s a detailed breakdown of your water bill:

  • Service Charge: A fixed charge for water and/or sewer service.
  • Water Charge: Based on your monthly water consumption, measured in cubic meters.
  • Sewer Charge: Based on your monthly water consumption, measured in cubic meters.
  • Additional Fees: Any extra charges related to specific services or infrastructure projects.

To view water and wastewater rates, please view our 2025 Fees and Charges.

Pay Your Water Bill

There are several ways to pay your water bill:

  • Through your Bank  – Pay at the teller or through online banking. Be sure to use the water account number as the payee reference. Depending on your bank we may be called Meaford PUC, Meaford Utilities, Meaford Public Utilities, or Meaford (Mun. of) Utilities. 
    • Drop the first two zeros from your customer number and enter it correctly to avoid admin fees
    • Payments take 2-3 business days—plan accordingly.
  • Pre-Authorized Payment Plan – Sign up for automatic monthly payments from your bank account. This ensures your bills are paid on time.
  • In Person – Pay at the Municipal Office (21 Trowbridge St. W, Meaford). We accept debit, cheque, and cash.
  • By Mail – Send your payment with the bill stub to the Municipal Office.
    • The Municipality is not responsible for delays in the mail—plan accordingly.
  • With a Credit Card – You can now pay your water bill using your Visa or MasterCard. Visa and MasterCard payments incur a 1.75% fee, with a $1,000 max. Processing takes two business days.

 Frequently Asked Questions

When are water bills issued and when is the due date?
Water bills are issued monthly and are typically sent out between the 20th and 23rd each month. The due date will be the 15th (or the next business day) and is printed in the upper right corner of your bill. Please ensure that your payment is received by this date to avoid any late charges. Interest at a rate of 1.25% will be applied each month on any outstanding balance after the due date.

Why is my water bill is higher than usual?
A higher-than-usual water bill can be caused by several factors, such as increased water usage, a leak in your system, or changes in the water rate. If you believe your bill is unusually high, check for potential leaks in faucets, toilets, and pipes, and review your water consumption. If you have concerns, contact our billing department for further assistance.

I am moving. What do I need to know?

Set up a new account: To set up a new water account for a property, please contact us below.

Close account: If you are moving, you must notify us at least five (5) business days before you vacate the property to schedule a final meter reading. Please contact us below. 

I am a tenant/landlord. What do I need to know?

All water and wastewater accounts will be registered under the name of the property owner. The property owner will be held ultimately responsible for all water and wastewater charges, as well as any associated fees billed to the property.

If the property owner and tenant agree, the utility bill can be sent under the property owner’s name, care of the tenant at the tenant’s address. This requires completing a property owner tenant account guarantee form.

Final Reading Notification: The property owner must notify the Municipality of a required final reading a minimum of five (5) business days before the date when a tenant vacates or occupies the property. Notification must be made in writing via the form available at the Municipal Office, on the website, or by email upon request.

Arrears Notification: In cases of arrears, a statement of account will be mailed to both the property owner and tenant(s) for any accounts that are over 30 days past due. A final arrears notice will be sent to the property owner if an account balance remains unpaid for 90 days or reaches an amount of $900, whichever occurs first. The notice will inform the property owner that if payment is not received by the next billing due date, the outstanding balance will be transferred to the property tax roll. The property owner will be responsible for any additional charges or penalties associated with the transfer to the tax roll. 

Why did I receive a bill when I am not connected to water and/or wastewater?

Some properties that are not connected to municipal water and/or wastewater will still receive a water bill. This is because of an Infrastructure Renewal Fee, which is a flat rate charge applied in these two cases:

  1. The property has water and/or wastewater infrastructure in front of it but is not connected. 
  2. The property is vacant but has services installed up to the property line.

These properties are counted in the system's water and wastewater capacity because they might connect in the future. The fee helps cover the cost of maintaining or upgrading the infrastructure.
How are water rates determined? 

Water rates are set annually by Council via the user fees and charges by-law.
How do I get a water certificate? 
Water Certificates are available by request with a cost of $50.00 per property. Certificate requests can be emailed to water@meaford.ca along with a copy of the cheque to be mailed to the following address: 

Municipality of Meaford
Water Department 
21 Trowbridge St. W
Meaford, ON, N4L 1A1

Make cheque payable to The Municipality of Meaford.

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