Changes Coming to Your Water and Wastewater Bill in 2026!

Big changes are coming to how Grimsby residents are billed for water and wastewater services starting in 2026.

We’re moving to a fair, consistent, and easy-to-understand approach for everyone in our community.

What You Need to Know

Below is a list of the main changes resident can expect - at a glance.

Here’s what’s changing:

• One combined bill: All properties will now be billed for both water and wastewater services directly on the water bill.

• No more wastewater levy on your tax bill: The wastewater tax levy (SAR) will be eliminated starting in 2026.

• Charges based on water use: Bills will be based on your meter size (for fixed charges) and your actual water usage (for variable charges).

• Fair and consistent for everyone: All users of the Town’s water and wastewater systems will now pay in the same way. This is the standard approach used by most municipalities across Ontario.

In addition to these changes, the billing schedule will also change:

• Currently, bills are issued three times per year (tri-annually).

• Starting in 2026, bills will be issued every two months (bi-monthly) to help customers better track water use and manage household budgets.

• You’ll receive your final bill under the old structure in January 2026, covering usage up to December 31, 2025. Depending on your billing cycle, this bill may cover a slightly shorter period, with charges adjusted accordingly.

• Your next bill, arriving in March 2026, will include both water and wastewater charges under the new system.

Project Background

Current Billing Practices for Water and Wastewater Services

Every time we turn on the tap or flush the toilet, we count on clean water being there and wastewater being carried away safely. Behind the scenes, it takes a lot of equipment, treatment plants, and dedicated staff to keep everything running smoothly. To cover these costs, municipalities charge customers for the water and wastewater services they use.

For many years, Grimsby has used a water bill to charge customers for the supply of water and a special area rate, otherwise known as a Wastewater Tax Levy, to bill customers for wastewater treatment. A Wastewater Levy is found on your tax bill, and it represents the property owner's share of the Town-wide costs to keep Grimsby's wastewater system running safely and efficiently.

Over the past few years, the Town has been working to modernize water and wastewater billing. In 2023, changes were introduced, splitting wastewater charges 50/50 between the tax and water bill. Charges on the tax bill are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property by a special area rate (Wastewater Levy). Variable charges on the water bill are based on individual water usage.

Rate Structure Changes

Town Council approved changes to eliminate the Wastewater Levy effective January 2026 and charge customers using meter size ratios for fixed water and wastewater costs. Customers will now find all of their water and wastewater costs in one place - the water bill. These changes will be effective for January 2026 water and wastewater consumption.

A Better Way to Bill Water and Wastewater

The Town is introducing a new billing structure that’s more equitable, transparent, and consistent with practices used across Ontario.

The current model can be difficult to reconcile, with wastewater collection costs shared between the property tax bill and water bill. This split makes it difficult to understand the true cost of water and wastewater services.

At present, everyone pays the same fixed water charge, whether it’s a small household or a large business, regardless of how much water they use or the size of their water meter. Some properties pay additional fixed charges for extra residential or commercial units tied to the same account, but this isn't the most equitable way to distribute fixed water costs.

The new rate structure simplifies billing and ensures fairness by linking water and wastewater charges to meter size and actual water use.

Customers with the same meter size and consumption will pay the same amount – a fair, consistent, and easy-to-understand approach for everyone.

Billing by Meter Sizes - How Does it Work?

The best practice for billing water and wastewater costs involves the use of meter size ratios, a method commonly adopted by municipalities across Ontario. The smallest meter size represents the base charge for how larger meters are billed proportionately. The size of a meter is relative to the capacity to consume or flow water. Larger meters place greater demand on the system and are therefore billed at a higher ratio than smaller meters.

Most residential meters are less than one inch in size. The table below outlines how costs are allocated based on meter size.

The wastewater tax levy will be eliminated for 2026 and future years. To estimate how much you will save on your tax bill, look for the Wastewater Levy line on your current 2025 final tax bill.

Visit the FAQ section on the right side of the page for more information about the Wastewater Levy and an example of a current bill.

Billing Timeline Changes

Currently, all billing areas in the Town (A, B, C, and D) are billed three times per year, with each bill covering four months of consumption. A final bill for all areas will be issued at the end of January 2026. This bill will cover only the remaining months since your last regular billing - not the full four months. Fixed charges will be prorated based on number of months remaining in your previous billing period.

In 2026, all areas will be on the same billing schedule with bills being issued every other month. More frequent billing will allow customers to better manage their budget and monitor their water consumption. It will also help identify potential leaks sooner, saving customers money and reducing water towards greater environmental responsibility. These changes have been made possible, in part, by the 2025 Meter Exchange Project, which resulted in the exchange of approximately 2,100 outdated touchpad meters, enabling remote data collection and meter reads for all areas of the Town.

Beginning in March 2026, all customers in Town will be on the same billing schedule and receive a bill every other month. All water customers will be on the same billing schedule going forward.

Water Bill Calculator

Wondering how the new water rates might affect your bill? Try our easy-to-use Water Billing Calculator to estimate your future costs based on your typical water use.

Water Conservation

Customers can make a difference in the amount of their water bill by making changes in the way that they use water, reducing consumption and keeping a close watch for potential leaks.

Saving water is also good for the environment, reducing water loss and making best use of precious resources. Visit https://www.grimsby.ca/living-in/water-services/water-billing/water-conservation-and-leak-detection/ for more information.