Your Water and Sewer Invoice
Open an Account
No action is needed from you. Your account is created by the Township when we receive your "change of ownership" documents from your lawyer (usually near your closing date). A $25 administrative fee will be added to your first invoice.
The invoice cannot be in the name of a tenant, as the "owner" is responsible for the management of the property. The invoices are sent to the owner for verification to avoid outstanding balances and penalties. However, a tenant can register for preauthorized payments by including the signature of the owner.
We encourage you to register for e-billing and/or pre-authorized payments.
Close an Account
Once your property is sold, contact our Finance Department with your new mailing address (including your new Post Office box if applicable). A $25 administrative fee will be added to your final invoice.
Your final invoice will reflect the water consumption you used between your last regular reading date and your final reading date.
If you are registered for a Pre-Authorized Payment plan, it will be automatically be cancelled once your final invoice is paid in full.
Change of Mailing Address, Email, or Phone Number
Please notify our Finance Department as soon as possible if you have a change of mailing address, P.O. box number, telephone number, or email address. Failure to receive an invoice will not invalidate penalty and interest charges.
The post office will not deliver your mail/invoices if there is an incorrect or incomplete mailing address.
Billing Cycle and Fees
| Billing Cycle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water and/or sewer bills are sent every three months, being in January, April, July and October. Your water meter is read on the 15th day of the month before your bill. Please contact our Finance Department for billing questions. |
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| Flat Fees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water Users and Sewer Users are charged a flat fee every billing cycle. This fee covers the administration and operational fees. Please contact our Finance Department for billing questions. These fees are subject to change.
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| Variable Consumption Rates |
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| The variable consumption rate is set based on the amount of water you use, measured by your water meter. Contact our Finance Department for the updated Variable Consumption Rate. If your invoice seems high, it could be because of:
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Reading Your Water Meter
Your water meter has an odometer that displays your total water usage since it was installed.
- The first digit to the right of the decimal point displays your consumption every 100 liters.
- The second digit to the right of the decimal point, represents every 10 liters of water used.
- The first digit on the left of the decimal point identifies the cubic meter. Please note that 1m³ represents 1,000 liters of water.
Detecting a Leak
- Every 20 to 30 seconds, you will notice the odometer switch from displaying your water usage to your flow rate. The word "FLOW" will appear on the meter when it switches and will display the rate of flow in liters per minute.
- If you have shutoff all faucets, showerheads, and other water uses and the meter is still detecting water flow, it could mean you may have a leak within your plumbing system. Any possible leaks detected in your plumbing system is your responsibility as a property owner. Please contact your plumber!
- To calculate the cost of your leak, multiply your rate of flow by 1,440 minutes, then multiply by your variable consumption rate.
Payment Options
| Pre-Authorized Payments |
| Although invoices are sent to the property owner, a tenant can register for preauthorized payments by including the signature of the owner. Avoid the task of remembering due dates, waiting in line or risking late fees by registering for our Pre-Authorized Payment Plan. Our Finance Department can arrange monthly withdrawals from your bank account for your water and/or sewer payments. For more information please visit our Pre-Authorized Payment Plan page. We also offer e-billing services. |
| Through Your Bank |
| You can pay your water and/or sewer invoice at any financial institution using on-line banking, telephone banking, or paying in person at the bank branch. Reminders:
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| At Town Hall |
| You can pay your water and/or sewer invoice in-person at Town Hall using:
Cheques must have the property tax roll number on the front and bill payment stub attached. Cheques should be made payable to the “Township of Russell”. Use our 24-hour outdoor dropbox to deliver your payment in an envelope. The dropbox is to the left of the main doors of Town Hall. If you are sending your payment by mail, allow enough mailing time to avoid the chance of late payment charges. |
Returned or Rejected Payments and Penalties
All returned or rejected payments are charged a fee of $25. This includes not-sufficient funds and stopped payments. All late payments are charged a late fee of 1.25% monthly, charged on the first day of each month until paid.