As part of the 2026 budget, the Municipality of Meaford is updating how water and wastewater bills are calculated, effective February 1, 2026. These updates move the community toward a more consumption‑based user pay system that ties your bill more directly to the amount of water your household uses.
Understanding Your Water Bill
Take a look at this example of a water bill to see exactly what to expect. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each charge:
- Service Charge: A fixed fee that covers water and/or sewer service.
- Water Charge: Based on your monthly water consumption, measured in cubic meters.
- Sewer Charge: Based on your monthly water consumption, measured in cubic meters.
- Additional Fees: Any extra charges related to specific services or infrastructure projects.
View water and wastewater rates
Paying Your Water Bill
There are several ways to pay your bill:
- Through your Bank– Pay at the teller or through online banking. Be sure to use the water account number as the payee reference. Depending on your bank, we may be referred to as Meaford PUC, Meaford Utilities, Meaford Public Utilities, or Meaford (Mun. of) Utilities. Note that payments typically take 2-3 business days. Some other helpful tips:
- Drop the first two zeros from your customer number and enter it correctly to avoid admin fees
- Sign up for a pre-authorized payment plan to ensure that your bills are paid on time
- In Person– Pay at the Municipal Office (21 Trowbridge St. W, Meaford). We accept debit, cheque, and cash.
- By Mail– Send your payment, along with the bill stub, to the Municipal Office. Please note that the Municipality is not responsible for delays in the mail.
- By Credit Card – Visa and MasterCard are accepted as payment options. Please note that both payments incur a 1.75% fee, with a $1,000 max, and processing takes two business days.
- Phone: 1-877-565-3799
- Online
To register for pre-authorized payments, please:
- Complete the online registration form
- Submit it by mail or drop it off at the Municipal Office: 21 Trowbridge St. W
If you have any questions, please contact our Tax Department or Utilities Department for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Water bills are issued monthly and are typically sent between the 20th and 23rd of each month. The due date will be the 15th (or the next business day) and is printed in the upper right corner of your bill. Please ensure that your payment is received by this date to avoid any late charges. After the due date, interest at a rate of 1.25% will be applied monthly on any outstanding balance.
This can be caused by several factors, such as increased water usage, a leak in your system, or changes to the water rate. If your bill seems unusually high, start by checking your faucets, toilets, and pipes for potential leaks, and review your water consumption. If you have any concerns, contact our billing department for further assistance.
If you are buying or selling a property in Meaford or need to update your contact information, complete this form to manage your account.
Please submit your request at least 5 business days before your closing date to ensure timely processing.
All water and wastewater accounts will be registered under the name of the property owner, who will be held ultimately responsible for all water and wastewater charges, as well as any associated fees billed to the property.
If both the property owner and tenant agree, the utility bill can be sent under the property owner’s name, marked care of the tenant at the tenant’s address. This requires completing a property owner tenant account guarantee form.
Final Reading Notification: The property owner must notify the Municipality of a required final reading a minimum of five (5) business days before the date a tenant vacates or occupies the property. Notification must be made in writing via the form available at the Municipal Office, on the website, or by email upon request.
Arrears Notification: In cases of arrears, a statement of account will be mailed to both the property owner and tenant(s) for any accounts that are over 30 days past due. A final arrears notice will be sent to the property owner if an account balance remains unpaid for 90 days or reaches an amount of $900, whichever occurs first. The notice will inform the property owner that if payment is not received by the next billing due date, the outstanding balance will be transferred to the property tax roll. The property owner will be responsible for any additional charges or penalties associated with the transfer to the tax roll.
Some properties that are not connected to municipal water and/or wastewater will still receive a water bill. This is because of an Infrastructure Renewal Fee, a flat rate charge which is applied in the following cases:
- The property has water and/or wastewater infrastructure in front of it but is not connected
- The property is vacant but has services installed up to the property line
These properties are included in the system’s water and wastewater capacity because they might connect at some point in the future. The fee helps cover the cost of maintaining or upgrading the infrastructure, ensuring the services are ready when needed.
Water rates are set annually by Council via the user fees and charges by-law.
Water Certificates are available by request with a cost of $50.00 per property. Certificate requests can be emailed to water@meaford.ca along with a copy of the cheque to be mailed to the following address, with the cheque made payable to:
Municipality of Meaford
Water Department
21 Trowbridge St. W
Meaford, ON, N4L 1A1