Understanding Your Water Bill

I received a card in my mailbox to return my meter reading. Why is it important to provide a water meter reading to the City?

Water meter readings ensure that water bills are based on actual consumption. When readings are not provided, water consumption is estimated and you may be under- or over-billed. Consistent, actual readings can help identify plumbing leaks sooner and save you money. Additional charges may be applied if we have to use means beyond a normal notice to obtain a water meter reading.

View more information about submitting your water meter reading.

Does the City have monthly billing?

Regular water / wastewater billings are bi-monthly effective December 1, 2021. Prior to this, billings were every four months.  Learn more about payment options with the City.

What is the average consumption of water in the City of St. Catharines?

The average household uses the equivalent of approximately three bathtubs of water each day, which is approximately 170 cubic metres of water per year.

How can I decrease my water consumption?

You can decrease your water consumption by:

• Installing low flow showerheads and toilets
• Never using toilets to flush dry waste
• Using a bucket with a sponge and never leaving water running when cleaning your car
• Sweeping instead of hosing things down
• Only running the dishwasher with a full load
• Only watering your lawn with one to two inches of water per week, including any rainwater

How do I find out if I have a leak?

• Ninety per cent of leaks in residential plumbing are found in the toilet tank, but they are hard to notice. You can perform a simple test to discover more. Place food colouring or a dye test tablet in the tank. Within 10 to 15 minutes, the colouring will appear in the toilet bowl if a leak is present. You can find dye test tablets at hardware stores and food colouring at grocery stores. Learn more about leaky toilets, including recognizing the signs, diagnosing the problem and how to proceed.

• To perform a test on the entire household, simply read the meter before going to bed, recording all of the digits and the exact position of the 10th column. Do not use any water before returning in the morning to read the meter again. If no water was used and the reading is different, you have a plumbing leak and should look for the fixture that is the source.

• Some homes have a sump pump. If you have one, check to see if it has water powered back-up. If it does and there is an extended power outage, you could be losing water directly into the pit without knowing it. Set your pump back to electricity as soon as possible.

My water / wastewater bill has always been consistent. Now it is suddenly very high. Why has this happened?

A sudden rise in your water bill may be due to a number of reasons, including:

• Plumbing leaks in toilets or taps
• Consecutive estimated readings followed by an accurate reading. If your water usage was underestimated and your consumption for previous billing periods was higher, you may see an increase in your current "catch-up" bill.
• An increase in the number of people living in your house may result in higher consumption.
• A hot, dry summer usually contributes to higher consumption outdoors.
• An increase in the number of days in the billing period depending on when the readings were taken.
• A residential water meter cannot suddenly run fast or over-register. Water flows through the system and transmits through a gearing system to the register, which records the flow in units. The reading is dependent on the number of operations of the piston. New meters are calibrated in the factory and guaranteed for accuracy. Under-registering is what usually occurs when a meter ages. A sudden drop in readings could mean the water has stopped. Contact us immediately to get it exchanged if this is the case. This will avoid overestimating your consumption for the period the meter isn't working.

How much water can pass through my meter?

The amount of water which can pass through a residential 5/8" water meter is 16 gallons per minute or 4.36 cubic metres per hour. This equals approximately $18.05 per hour. 220 gallons or 1,000 litres equals one cubic metre.

Who owns and maintains my water meter and water meter valve?

The City of St. Catharines owns the water meter. A 15-year replacement plan is in place to ensure the accuracy of our meters. Our Water / Wastewater By-law requires the homeowner to allow a City employee inside access to read, inspect and test our meter. We aim to inspect and read every meter once per year.

If your water service or water meter is frozen or water must be shut off for repairs, please contact us. Costs for these services are outlined in our Schedule of Rates and Fees.

While your water meter is the responsibility of the City, any repair or replacement needed for the valve located next to the meter is the responsibility of the property owner. If this valve is leaking or damaged, it is the property owner's responsibility to repair it. This may require the service of a plumber.

Where is the water meter located in my home?

The water meter is typically located in the basement, along the front wall and near the floor. Other common places include basement washrooms, laundry rooms and crawl spaces.

I'm moving and need to finalize my account. What should I do?

Please contact us by phone at 905.688.5601 ext. 1427 or by email at water@stcatharines.ca prior to your moving date. You will be asked for:

• The closing date
• A forwarding address
• A new telephone number
• Your lawyer's name and number

You can also complete our Water Property Transfer Form online.

A meter reader will make every effort to obtain a reading on the day of or day before the closing date. However, if you are ready to vacate the premises, please submit your meter reading. A final bill will be sent to your new address. If we do not receive a reading, we will produce an estimate.

I have a tenant living in my property. Can you send the bill to them?

Yes, we can mail water / wastewater bills directly to the tenanted property. Learn more about our Tenant Mailing Contracts.