The City of Toronto is consulting with water users and interested parties on the possible implementation of a stormwater charge, stormwater charge credits and a water service charge. These potential charges would impact the rate that customers pay for their water.
The consultation is gathering feedback on the possible implementation of:
The City’s water and wastewater services (including management of stormwater) are funded using a “pay-as-you-go” system that charges a combined water and wastewater consumption rate called the “water rate” based on the volume of water a customer uses.
Since 2012, the City has consulted at various times on possible changes to water rates, fees and charges including a stormwater charge that would be dedicated to funding the City’s stormwater management initiatives. A proposal for a stormwater charge for all property classes was considered by City Council in 2017.
In 2020-2021, the City undertook focused consultation with interested parties on a possible stormwater charge for commercial and industrial properties only, as well as an administrative water charge (referred to as a water service charge) for all properties.
In July 2021, City Council directed Toronto Water and the Chief Financial Officer to further consult with the public and interested parties on possible changes to water rates, fees and charges, including a stormwater charge, stormwater charge credits and an administrative water charge (also referred to as a water service charge).
Stormwater is rain and melted snow. When not absorbed into the ground, stormwater runs off hard surfaces, onto streets, down storm drains and through a network of pipes that carry it into local waterways.
In urbanized areas like Toronto, there are a lot of hard surfaces. When severe storms happen, more stormwater runs off hard surfaces and enters the City’s sewer system. Too much stormwater can overwhelm the City’s sewer system, which can lead to flooded basements and impacts to surface water quality in Toronto’s rivers, streams and Lake Ontario’s waterfront.
The City takes a multi-pronged approach to manage the harmful impacts of stormwater. The City’s stormwater management initiatives include:
The water rate that water users currently pay as part of the utility bill includes costs for stormwater management.
The City is consulting on a proposal for a stormwater charge that would be dedicated to funding the City’s stormwater management initiatives. A stormwater charge would be based on the impact of a property with respect to stormwater runoff to the City’s storm sewer system, which is represented by the amount of hard surface area on a property. Hard surfaces include roofs, asphalt driveways, parking areas and concrete landscaping.
Under the stormwater charge proposal, costs for stormwater management would be removed from the water rate and the stormwater charge would appear as a separate line on the utility bill. This would result in a reduction of the water rate in the calendar year that the stormwater charge would take effect, if approved by City Council.
For properties less than one hectare in size, there would be a tiered, flat rate stormwater charge based on the average hard surface area of all properties in each tier. Property tiers are determined by property size ranges for different property types – residential, multi-residential and condominium, and industrial commercial and institutional (ICI).
Property Types (for properties less than 1 hectare in size) | Number of Tiers |
Residential properties (single family detached, semi-detached, townhome, rowhouse, duplex, triplex) | 7 tiers |
Multi-residential (apartment and condominium buildings) | 5 tiers |
Industrial, Commercial & Institutional (ICI) | 5 tiers |
For properties one hectare or larger in size, the City would undertake individual assessments of each property using aerial photography to determine the hard surface area (m2) on a property.
More information on the property tiers and estimated cost impacts for different property types are included in the presentation materials found in the Public Consultation tab below.
In addition to a stormwater charge, the City is consulting on a potential stormwater charge credits program for large properties. Stormwater charge credits would provide a reduction of a potential stormwater charge (if implemented) on the utility bill for large properties.
The City is seeking feedback on a proposed framework for a stormwater charge credits program that outlines proposed eligibility, application requirements and credit categories. The framework sets out the following:
More information about a potential stormwater charge credits program is included in the presentation materials found in the Public Consultation tab below.
The City is consulting on a potential water service charge. The water service charge proposal would remove certain fixed costs for the administration of water and wastewater services from the water rate and show them as a separate charge (a “water service charge”) on the utility bill.
Fixed administrative costs do not vary with the volume of water produced or volume of wastewater treated by the City. Fixed administrative costs would include insurance, real estate, water meter servicing, utility billing costs (for water and sewer services) and corporate charges from City divisions to Toronto Water.
The removal of administrative fixed costs from the water rate would result in a reduction of the water rate in the calendar year that a water service charge would take effect, if approved by City Council.
The water service charge would be a tiered, flat rate charge based on a property’s water meter size. Water meter size is typically shown on the top of the water meter in the basement of a home or building. Almost all residential properties have a one-inch or smaller water meter.
There would be five water service charge tiers based on water meter sizes ranging from the smallest water meters (Tier 1 – one inch or smaller water meters) to the largest water meters (Tier 5 – six-, eight- and 10-inch water meters). The water service charge would be charged for each water meter based on a property.
More information on the water service charge and estimated cost impacts are included in the presentation materials found in the Public Consultation tab below.
Public consultation on a potential stormwater charge and on a potential water service charge will take place March 18 to April 30, 2024.
Following public consultation, City staff will review all feedback received. A report to Executive Committee and City Council on the outcomes of consultation is planned for summer 2024.
To learn more about a possible stormwater charge, stormwater charge credits program, and a water service charge, and to provide feedback, you are invited to participate in a virtual meeting, review the presentation material and complete a survey.
Participate in one of three virtual meetings to learn more about the potential stormwater charge and credits program, and the water service charge, ask questions and provide feedback. Each meeting will feature the same presentation followed by a question-and-answer period.
There is more than one way to participate in the meetings:
Register for Meeting #1 Monday April 8, 6 – 8 p.m.
To join by phone (audio only) call 416-915-6530
Webinar number: 2633 072 6704
Webinar password: 777 66 775
Register for Meeting #2 Thursday April 11, 6 – 8 p.m.
To join by phone (audio only) call 416-915-6530
Webinar number: 2631 865 9823
Webinar password: 584 85 424
Register for Meeting #3 Tuesday April 16, 6 – 8 p.m.
To join by phone (audio only) call 416-915-6530
Webinar number: 2633 865 0724
Webinar password: 396 77 949
Learn more about participating in City of Toronto virtual engagement events.
To request accommodation, or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Aadila Valiallah 416-338-2985 or stormwatercharge@toronto.ca one week before your preferred meeting date.
Complete a survey or submit comments by email or phone by April 30, 2024.
This survey is intended to receive feedback on the stormwater charge and water service from Toronto residential, commercial and industrial water users. Contact us to request a printed copy of the survey.
To submit general feedback on the changes being considered please send an email to stormwatercharge@toronto.ca or call 416-338-2985.