Water & Sewer FAQs
Why is my water/sewer bill higher than usual?
Is there fluoride in the water system?
How much does it cost to fill a pool?
How can I pay my water/sewer bill?
How do I set up a water/sewer account?
What should I do if I detect coloured water?
When are the water mains flushed, and what happens when they are flushed?
What about the salt/sodium level in the water?
What can be flushed down the toilet?
Wondering about the chlorine levels in the North Dundas water system?
Why is my water/sewer bill higher than usual?
Check for the following:
- toilet running
- taps dripping
- taps outside left on or not shut off all the way
- sump pumps that use water to pump water (not legal)
- outdated water softener
Is there fluoride in the water system?
No, the water in the North Dundas system is not treated with fluoride.
How much does it cost to fill a pool?
Click here to download By-law 06-2015 that contains water rates.
A cubic metre is equal to 220 gallons of water.
How can I pay my water/sewer bill?
- At the Township office at 636 St. Lawrence Street in Winchester by cash, cheque, or Interac
- At most major banks and financial institutions
- Online
How do I set up a water/sewer account?
Owner:
Call the township and provide your full name, P.O. Box, civic address, and phone number.
Renter:
Click here to download the Water & Sewer Application Form which must be accompanied by the required deposit.
What should I do if I detect coloured water?
Let the cold water run several minutes until it clears. Don’t wash your whites. If the water doesn’t clear, please contact the township office at 613-774-2105 or the Ontario Clean Water Agency at 613-448-3098 (1-800-342-6442 after business hours or on weekends).
When are the water mains flushed, and what happens when they are flushed?
The township water mains are flushed in May and October. This maintenance procedure is routine but may result in temporary inconveniences, such as reduced pressure or coloured water. The coloured water is not hazardous to your health. Open your cold water taps to clear the system. The coloured water is temporary and should not last longer than two hours. During water main flushing, it is recommended that customers check for clear running water prior to use each day.
Are some sump pumps illegal?
As per Township of North Dundas By-Law 20-2012, section 16, number 7, no water powered or water driven sump pumps or back up pumps are allowed to be connected to any part of a plumbing system or water supply system that is connected to a municipal water system or municipal sewage system.
What about the salt/sodium level in the water?
Provincial regulations require the operator or owner of a drinking water system to notify the Medical Officer of Health should sodium levels be higher than 20 milligrams of sodium per litre of water. This information is also passed on to the customers, and is particular note to people who restrict their intake of sodium for medical reasons.
For individuals not on sodium restricted diets, Health Canada recommends people over the age of one consume between 1000 and 1500 milligrams of sodium per day. For comparison, a litre of 1% milk contains 452 milligrams of sodium.
What can be flushed down the toilet?
Click here to download the document containing information on flushables.
Wondering about the chlorine levels in the North Dundas water system?
Sodium hypochlorite is used for both primary and secondary disinfection of the groundwater wells which supply North Dundas’ drinking water system. The dosage applied at each well varies according to the demand of the raw water. Regardless of the dose applied, the free chlorine residual of water leaving the treatment facilities is generally maintained between 1.0 mg/L and 2.5 mg/L.
The minimum allowable free chlorine residual at the end of the distribution system in accordance with Ontario Regulation 170/03 is 0.05 mg/L; however, provincial guidelines recommend residuals be kept above 0.20 mg/L. This minimum chlorine residual is meant to act as a safeguard against microbial contamination, to inhibit biofilm formation, and serve as an indicator of distribution system integrity (Procedure for Disinfection of Drinking Water, 2006). Throughout the distribution system, chlorine residuals decay for a number of reasons, most notably the type of pipe (due to reaction with corrosion products), reaction with biofilms/microorganisms, and the age of the water.
North Dundas’ distribution system residuals are regularly monitored using grab samples in conjunction with continuous online analyzers. Based on results obtained throughout the system, it has been determined that the optimum range for free chlorine in water leaving the treatment facilities is between 1.0 and 2.5 mg/L.
The maximum allowable residual in the distribution system in accordance with the Ontario Procedure for Disinfection is 4.0 mg/L. North Dundas’ distribution residuals remain well below the 4.0 mg/L limit.