What are your maintenance and repair responsibilities as an owner?

• Property owner water service line: The part of the underground pipe that exits your house and goes to the water valve (curb stop) located on your property. Likewise, you are responsible for this underground part of the sewer line.
• Indoor water valve & plumbing: The water pipe system, drains, fittings, valves and accessories in your building that distributes water. Likewise, you are responsible for this part of the sewer lines.
• Fire hydrant: The majority of these belong to the town and may be found at the edge of your property. If this is the case, you are responsible for ensuring that you do not obstruct access to the hydrant ( plants, flowers, shrubs, monuments, fence). It is also forbidden to paint them, because they are already painted according to their water flow capacity.

For private fire hydrants which do not belong to the town, all responsibility rests with the owner.

What are our maintenance and repair responsibilities as a municipality?

• Water Valve (curb stop): The rod with a cast-iron cap nicknamed "curb stop" that is on your property. It is used to turn on and off the water supply between the town’s drinking water distribution system and your home.
• Municipal water service line: The part of the underground pipe that starts from the water valve (curb stop) and goes to the watermain in the street. Likewise, we are responsible for this underground part of the sewer line.
• Watermain: The 35 km of underground watermains that carries water to the properties supplied by the drinking water distribution network.
• Fire hydrant: Approximately 350 fire hydrants that provide fire protection on the territory of the Town of Hawkesbury.

Did you know?

The water valve nicknamed "curb stop" indicates the boundary of your property to that of the city. It belongs to us and should be handled only by municipal employees. It is important that it is functional, visible and accessible so that we can shut off the water supply to your home if you need to do emergency or planned work.

When planning to dig for landscaping, paving or plumbing, contact the environmental service 48 hours in advance if you need to:

• Locate your curb stop because it is not visible
• Have it lifted, lowered or repaired
• Make a request to close or open the water

What they are and how they work

Your water meter is an instrument that continuously measures and records the volume of water passing through it, therefore your water consumption. It lets you see what you use and how much you pay - just like your electricity bill.

Water meters need water to pass through them in order to record consumption, such as from a tap being turned on or a toilet being flushed. They contain a disk that revolves inside a chamber and as the water passes through that chamber, the disk turns to track your water use in cubic meters. Water meters are mechanical devices and have no electrical components inside them. They either record consumption accurately or start under-registering with age.

The following video also explains it very well: Water meter mechanism

As for your internal main water shut-off valve’s, its purpose is to allow you to shut off the water in your building for several reasons, including emergencies, repairing leaks, taps or toilets and when leaving home for an extended period of time.

There are 2 common types of main water shut-off valve’s – the gate valve and the ball valve.

Older buildings will often have a gate valve. This type of valve features a circular “wheel” handle, which is turned to open or close the water.

Newer buildings will most likely have a ball valve. This type of valve features a lever handle that has 2 positions – On and Off. Today, the ball valve is frequently recommended as it is more effective at forming a tight seal and has more reliability and longevity than gate valves.

Location and Responsibilities

Here’s a very important question for every property owners. Do you know where your water meter and internal main water shut-off valve are located in your building? We are not expected to be plumber experts but by knowing where these are located, it can minimize or prevent problems.

Your water meter is generally located in your basement, along the front wall and near the floor, after your main water shut-off valve. If you don't have a basement, look for it in a crawlspace or on the main floor.

Water meters are the property of the Town of Hawkesbury. However, you are responsible for taking care of it and all your inside plumbing, including pipes and water shut-off valves.

Always maintain clear access to the meter and provide adequate heating to prevent damage during freezing winter temperatures. Likewise, your internal main water shut-off valve should always be accessible and ready for use in case of an emergency.

If your water meter is damaged or frozen because you didn’t take proper care of it, you will have to pay for the meter replacement.

Reading and Billing

The town reads your water meter on a monthly basis, through battery electronic radio transmitter technology. This technology uses a mechanism that is connected directly on your water meter where it transmits data from your meter over to a device hand-held by a town employee as they drive by your residence.

As all meters have a unique identification number, this device will match your meter’s identification number and will record its reading only. At the end of the day, the handheld device transfers the information into our billing system.

High Water Bill

If you see a sudden rise in your bill and you have not changed your water usage, this is a sign that you have a leak in your plumbing system. A sudden increase in the amount of your bill could be due to several reasons:

• Plumbing leaks in toilets, taps, pipes, garden hoses
• An increase in the number of people living or working in your residence
• A hot and dry summer, resulting in higher water consumption
• Renovations, recent landscaping or filling of a swimming pool

Before contacting the Town, check if you have a leak. Here are few easy ways that can help you confirm the presence of one, which does not need the assistance of a plumber:

• Toilet check: Because the first common reason for a leak is caused by toilets, this is the first thing you want to check out. Simply add food colouring in the tank and let it sit for about 20 minutes. If the colour shows up in your toilet bowl, this means you have a leaking toilet.

You can also look inside the tank. If the water is flowing into the overflow tube once the tank is full, you have a leak.

• Leaking Faucet or hose - Unlike a leaky toilet, a leaky faucet is easy to notice because of the sound of dripping water. Take a walk through your home and backyard to check for leaking faucets.

• Water meter check: Turn off all water faucets in your home (but not your main water shut-off valve) and make sure no appliances are using water, such a washing machine and a dishwasher. Locate your water meter and make a note of the numbers you see. Wait an hour, preferably longer if you can, and check the numbers again. If the numbers have changed, there’s a leak somewhere.

Who to Contact

If the water meter is leaking, please contact the Town of Hawkesbury as soon as reasonability possible to prevent property damage and water loss.

The Town is not responsible for leaks to your internal pipes or your main water shut-off valve. Contact a plumber if one of these is leaking.

For questions related to bills, please contact the Finance Service by e-mail at .

For questions related to the purchasing and acquisition of water meters, please contact the Buildings and Inspections Service by e-mail at .

Did you know?

A continuous water leak can waste the following amounts:

To prevent these sudden rises, check for the presence of leaks at least once a year. Also, you should close your internal main water shut-off valve when you go on vacation or away for a long time. This can limit the possible water damage if a pipe breaks or if your house loses heat (e.g., power outage) and the pipes freeze.

In order to help our citizens, we've created a list of frequently asked questions. In case you cannot find your answer, here is a list of contacts to whom you can make your request: 

• For questions regarding leaks, interruptions, pressure, taste, odour or colour of drinking water, please contact the Environmental Service by e-mail at .

• For questions related to water and sewer bills, please contact the Finance Service by e-mail at .

• For questions related to sanitary sewers, please contact the Public Works Service by e-mail at .

• For questions related to water meters, please contact the Buildings and Inspections Service by e-mail at .

Frequently asked questions related to drinking water:

What are the pink or black spots in the bath or toilet bowl?

This is a common problem resulting from the growth of bacteria on moist surfaces, which are commonly present in our environment. We can find them in the hot water tank, in the air and in the dust of our residences. Their proliferation is reflected by the gradual appearance of a pinkish, orange or black film on surfaces that are warm and moist, such as showerheads, toilet bowls, shower curtains and bath contours. These bacteria are not present in our municipal tap water.

The best way to keep these surfaces free from the bacterial film is by regularly cleaning with a bleach-based cleanser. A bathroom fan can also help to reduce the moist environment in bathrooms.

Why is my water pressure low or why does it fluctuate during use?

There could be a few reasons for this. This could be caused by a leak on your service line or due to the state of your plumbing pipes. It can also be caused by water distribution maintenance activities such as fire hydrants maintenance, leak repairs and distribution system flushing operations.

Why does my tap water smell and/or tastes like chlorine?

Chlorine is used to disinfect and maintain good water quality. If the smell is too strong, place the water in a pitcher and let stand in the refrigerator before consuming.

Why does my tap water have a whitish colour?

This coloration of water is usually caused by the presence of small air bubbles trapped in the water. This is a normal phenomenon which occurs frequently when the water temperature changes (ex. change of season) and does not represent any risk to your health.

Why does my tap water have a rusty colour?

This coloration of the water can be caused by the use of a nearby fire hydrant, the unidirectional flushing, a water main break, or even when the water is reopened following works. Let the cold water run and it will become clear again. Note that this discolouration does not represent any risk for your health. 

Who do I contact to have the water turned off or turned on?

These requests must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Please call 613 678-9269 or send an e-mail to .

What is unidirectional flushing?

The unidirectional flushing that is performed once a year is intended to dislodge deposits in the watermains walls as well as to ensure the quality of drinking water. To do this, we force the water in one direction and then we evacuate it through fire hydrants. At the same time, we check the quality of infrastructure, such as street valves and fire hydrants.

Because this is a large operation, there may be a temporary drop in water pressure, with or without a reddish (rust) coloration of the water in the areas affected by the flushing. Please note that this discolouration does not pose any risk to your health.

Can I purchase bulk water?

Tankers wishing to get bulk water may fill directly at the drinking water plant. This request must be made at least 24 hours in advance at 613 678-9269 or by e-mail to . Payment must be made prior to the Finance Department or shall be given to the operator present at the plant.

Some tips to follow:

• Always check the colour of the water before use. If the water is coloured, leave the cold-water taps running until the water returns clear. This should take about one minute.
• If possible, do your laundry in the evening or on the weekends during this time.

Frequently asked questions related to wastewater:

Who do I contact if I have sewer backflow problems?

Please contact the Public Works Service by e-mail at . For emergencies after 4:00 p.m., contact the Fire Service dispatcher at 613 632-1105.

Why is my sewer bill combined with my water consumption?

All properties in the Town are connected to a water meter and the cost for water and sewer services are charged on a combination of fixed fees and consumption. For more information, you can consult the rates for water and sewer service by-law on the Town’s website.

Does the wastewater treatment facility accept RV waste?

No, the wastewater treatment plant does not accept RV waste.

Snow removal protocol according to the Municipal Act, 2001

ONTARIO REGULATION 239/02

MINIMUM MAINTENANCE STANDARDS FOR MUNICIPAL HIGHWAYS

(No Class 1 or 2 in Hawkesbury)

You can download the PDF version here

 Right-of-way

The right-of-way of a road designates the surface of the land occupied by the road and all the dependencies essential for its maintenance, namely the platform, the ditches and the embankments, as well as all the spaces or paths necessary for its maintenance or its operation.

 Reduced loads period exemption (March 6, 2020)

You can download the PDF version here

The Public Works Department is responsible for numerous municipal facilities. Its first priority is the public safety on the Town 54 kilometer road network, sidewalks, shoulders, bridges, culverts and drainage ditches.

The department winter maintenance program includes salting and sanding, snow plowing and snow removal. All road maintenance programs meet the provincial standards.

The department is also responsible for the performance and/or supervision of improvements or repair to the municipal water, sanitary and storm sewer networks.

The department looks after the performance and repair of other municipal installations such as parks, playgrounds, wharfs, municipal buildings, public outdoor lighting and parking areas.