Water and Sewer
Billing
We issue water and wastewater bills on a quarterly basis, due on the last business day each January, April, July and October.
The Township of Adjala-Tosorontio regulates municipal water and wastewater systems and rates through our Water and Wastewater Rates By-laws. Water bills are determined by the cubic meters of consumption of water, as registered by your water meter. Residential units are also charged a water base rate per month. If you are on the Municipal Wastewater system, a wastewater base charge and wastewater consumption charge will apply. The wastewater consumption meter cubed amount is calculated as 80% of total water usage read by your meter.
Payment options
- In person at the Municipal Centre finance counters using Debit, Cash or Cheque
- Cheques can be deposited into our 24-hour drop box located at front entrance of our Municipal Centre or
- By mail, please include the remittance stub(s). Cheques can also be post-dated to the due date(s).
- By Internet or Telephone Banking. Enter Adjala-Tosorontio Water as the Payee and use your 10-digit account number (no decimal) as the account number. Allow 2 (two) business days prior to the due date for processing.
- In person at your bank.
The PAP Plan authorizes the Township to automatically withdraw funds from the bank account you designate to make payments on their due date. There are no service charges or fees for enrolling in the plan.
We require seven business days prior to any withdrawal date to enroll, cancel or change information. You can do this filling out the forms on our Applications, Licences and Permits page.
Paperless e-billing is available to Property Owners. Third parties or Tenants will not be permitted to sign up for e-billing. To receive paperless water bills, residents are required to complete an online paperless e-Billing form, found on our Applications, Licences and Permits page.
Selling your home
If you are moving, please advise the Township in advance of the closing date to ensure that our Public Works staff can complete a meter reading on the specified closing date.
Law firms may order a water certificate on your behalf by reaching out to Finance. Fees will apply, please see the current:
Tenant Occupied Properties
Tenant names are not permitted on the water/sewer bill as per current Water Rate By-law. It must remain in the registered owner’s name. The registered owner remains solely responsible for any unpaid amounts and if unpaid will be added to the associated tax account as these charges have priority lien status under Municipal Act, 2001 Reg 581/06.
To ensure ease in communication and collection of account balances, please consider paperless e-billing under the registered owner’s name.
By-laws and Rates
Water and Wastewater By-laws are viewable on our By-laws page.
WATER & WASTEWATER
Rate Studies
The Township works with independent consultants to review and recommend fair water and wastewater rates. These studies ensure rates reflect actual service costs and support long-term system sustainability. Final rates are reviewed and approved by Council.
Water Saving Tips
There are several ways to reduce water usage.
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 sprinklers so it does not 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.
- Utilize mulch around plants to retain moisture and reduce evaporation.
- Landscape with plants that are native to the region and can tolerate drought conditions.
- Are your toilets losing water? Please see our leak detection sheet.
- Ensure your water softener is functioning correctly by checking with the manufacturer’s manual. Demand initiated regeneration water softeners are the newest technology and only regenerate when needed. Older softeners may be wasteful of water and salt as they are set to regenerate on a timer regardless of the demand. Reach out to a local water softener specialist or the company that made your current softener.
- Don’t flush garbage down the toilet.
- Use high efficiency shower heads 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.
- Keep a jug of water in the fridge so you don’t have to run the tap to get it cold.
Regulatory Reports
The Township of Adjala-Tosorontio Drinking Water System Multi-Facility Operational Plan is available to the public upon request by contacting the Process Compliance Technician at the Ontario Clean Water Agency at 1-888-355-1222.
This report provides an overview of the Weca Drinking Water System (DWS) in the Village of Loretto and focuses specifically on the issue of Trihalomethanes (THMs)—by-products formed during the chlorination of drinking water. The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) will continue to monitor water samples regularly to help identify any contributing factors and make necessary treatment adjustments to reduce THM levels in the Weca distribution system.
Operations and Regulatory Reports
The Township has an agreement with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) to
operate our municipal water systems on our behalf, including regular water testing and monitoring services.
All resident concerns will be dealt with by OCWA. You can contact them at 1-888-355-1222.
Concerns about flushing of the lines, water discoloration, water pressure, sewers or work in your area please contact OCWA at 1-888-355-1222.
Connection or disconnection to the Township’s water supply can be requested for renovation or new construction. The Building permit process will administer and advise of related permits and fees.
Water/Wastewater Frequently Asked Questions
In 2009, Township Council approved a $5 million loan from Infrastructure Ontario to implement necessary works based on recommendations and requirements from the Ministry of the Environment including water quantity and quality in Colgan.
As of 2026, the external loan to Infrastructure Ontario has approximately $1.2 million remaining to be repaid. This is expected to be settled in 2029.
The Township is currently loaning money from the General Working Fund Reserve to the Water and Wastewater System to assist in paying back the external loan, as there is currently insufficient water and wastewater revenues to do this. Once the external loan is repaid, the water and wastewater revenues will then be utilized to pay back the internal loan to the General Working Fund Reserve.
As a regular financial practice, municipalities contribute to a General Working Fund Reserve to help cover unexpected expenses and financial pressures. The fund may be used for emergencies, worst-case-scenarios, capital projects, operating budget overruns, or other expenditures that were not originally budgeted.
The Colgan stormwater management pond at the wastewater treatment plant is designed to contain and manage any plant overflow events on-site. Water from the pond does not discharge to a watercourse unless the pond itself overtops, causing a bypass event. No bypass event has ever occurred to date.
If there is an overflow, strict regulatory guidelines are followed to protect the local ecosystem. Any incident is immediately reported to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), the Spills Action Centre, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and the Township. Regulatory agencies review the incidents and provide direction on response and follow-up actions. This includes taking water samples for testing and applying safe disinfection treatments as directed by MECP.
Information about any incident is included in the Annual Performance Report, which is publicly posted on the Township website annually in May, ahead of the required reporting deadline.
Residents can review the latest Annual Performance Report and supporting documentation at adjtos.ca/water under Regulatory Reports.
If you received a hand delivered notice regarding your water meter, please reach out to our water billing department 705-434-5055, Option 2
Please see the flow chart for more direction. To make the flow chart larger, please click the image.
