The Sewer Surcharge on the water bill contains a fixed charge component based on the size of the service and a consumption charge component based on water consumed. The revenue collected is used to fund capital projects largely related to alleviating basement flooding, along with operational expenditures related to sewer maintenance, sewage pumping stations and sewage treatment plants.
As a result of increased pricing for capital projects, additional funding of $2.5 million to build up the Sewer Surcharge reserve is included in the capital expenditures. Additionally, the continued $1 million increase in annual inflationary adjustment to the capital investment in 2024, along with additional funding of $2.5 million for the pollution equipment replacement reserve, will be used to fund additional key priority capital projects. Total increase in capital is $6 million.
Increased summer consumption for uses that typically do not return water to the sewer system (e.g. filling pools, washing cars, watering grass, etc.) is not included in the calculation of the sewer surcharge.
The City, on behalf of its residents, maintains 1,773 kilometres of sewers, 45 pumping stations and 2 major pollution control plants. These assets have a value of approximately $2 billion.
There is a continued need to comply with ever more stringent environmental regulations, which achieve important environmental objectives but are costly to implement. In addition, the effects of climate change are resulting in more frequent severe storms that increase the risks of flooding in the city. As a result, the City has spent $110 million to upgrade the Lou Romano Sewage Treatment Plant and $67 million on the Mario Sonego Storm Retention Treatment Basin (RTB). Additional flood mitigating projects, as outlined in the Sewer Master Plan, are currently being constructed by leveraging grant funding from senior levels of government.
If you require additional information, please call 311.