The City of St. Catharines offers a variety of ways to pay your water bill.
You can also learn about and understand your water bill online. Discover things like:
- Current rates and billing cycles
- Charges and fees
- Consumption calculations
- Checking for leaks
- Breakdown of your bill notice
Water bill payment options
You can use any of the following payment options to pay your water bill with the City.
Make a payment online:
We accept payments using Visa or MasterCard through our online service provider, Paymentus. A convenience fee applies for credit card transactions. Please be advised that it may take up to two business days for online payments to be processed.
Pay Online
By mail
Residents and property owners will not be able to pay water bills by mail for the duration of the Canada Post strike.
Learn more about how to access your water bill account balance, and options to pay your water bill, with our Canada Post Strike FAQ.
In-person payment or drop off
You can pay by cheque, cash or debit in-person at our Citizens First customer service desk on the second floor of City Hall during regular business hours. You can also deposit your cheque in the after-hours deposit box at City Hall, located at the James Street entrance. Do not deposit cash.
With your financial institution
You can have your Canadian financial institution (banking provider) submit your property tax payments for you. Contact your bank for more information or to help get you set up with this option.
Telephone
You can pay your property taxes by calling the telephone banking number found on the back of your personal Interac card and following your bank's instructions over the phone.
Online
You can pay your property taxes through online banking. Contact your banking provider to help get you set up with this option. Please allow sufficient time for your bank to forward the payment to the City when using this option.
Pre-authorized payments
Pre-authorized payment plans are available for water wastewater accounts with the City. Learn about the Per Bill Plan and Monthly Plan options and sign up by either filling out our on-line Pre-Authorized Payment Form or by printing and mailing in our Pre-authorized Debit Agreement Form.
If you would like to change your plan, your banking information or to cancel your Pre-Authorized Payment plan, please fill out our Pre-Authorized Payment Plan Modification or Cancellation form.
Receive your bill electronically
Learn how you can receive your water and property tax bills electronically.
This environmentally friendly option helps save paper and lets you access your water bill and property tax information anytime and anywhere with just a few clicks! You can also access property tax instalment dates, assessments, water consumption usage and transactions.
Open or close an account
Discover how to open or close a water utility account with the City.
Changing your address due to sale/purchase of property
If you have recently sold or purchased a property in the City, please advise the Water Billing Division of your upcoming closing using our Water Account Transfer Online Form or by phone 905-688-5600.
Please ask your lawyer to forward a copy of the registered transfer (the new ownership paperwork) to water@stcatharines.ca and taxes@stcatharines.ca.
Request a refund of a credit account balance
Have you overpaid your water utility account? Request a refund of your credit balance.
Financial assistance programs
Find out if you are eligible for our water and wastewater financial assistance programs.
Disability Payment Extension Program
We offer the Disability Payment Extension Program to eligible applicants who are living with disabilities and receiving Ontario Disability Support Program benefits. Eligible applicants can choose to pay their water fees for their primary residence on the last working day of the month that the payment is due without incurring a penalty.
To register, complete our Disability Payment Extension Application Form and visit our Citizens First customer service desk at City Hall. Please bring your form and proof of receipt of Ontario Disability Support Program benefits. You must also have a current water and wastewater account with the City.
Water / Wastewater Senior Credit Program
Learn more about the Water / Wastewater Senior Credit Program, available for eligible St. Catharines homeowners or tenants aged 65 and over.
Tenant Mailing Contracts
We offer Tenant Mailing Contracts, which authorize the water bill to be mailed to a tenant at a single-family home or single unit commercial property on behalf of the property owner. With the contract, we do not change the water bill to the tenant's name; it remains in the owner's name and the responsibility of the owner if bills are unpaid.
To apply, complete our Tenant Mailing Contract and submit it to our Citizens First customer service desk at City Hall or by emailing us.
Property owner responsibilities
Property owners have several responsibilities under tenant mailing contracts:
- You must notify the City each time a new tenant moves into the property and complete a new contract. You must take a water meter reading at the time of the tenant's occupancy. Record the date it was taken.
- A fee of $42.75 is added and billed to the owner's water account each time a new tenant occupies the residence.
- You must notify the City each time a tenant moves out and take a water reading at the time. Record the date it was taken. This reading is used to calculate the final tenant bill.
- Take note of your departing tenant's forwarding address and send this information to the City so we can ensure the final bill reaches the tenant. The final bill is directed to the property owner if we cannot reach the tenant.
- Provide all information by phone at 905.688.5600