While electricity and natural gas are deregulated across a few provinces, water is primarily regulated in Canada on a provincial or territorial level. This means that instead of choosing your water provider, there’s a set water utility for each area, usually at a municipal level.
Although that sounds simple, many Canadians may not know who to contact for their water bills or for setting up water utility meters. For first-time water bill payers or newcomers, this could be especially stressful. That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you and listed below the information on who the water supplier is in your province, as well as wastewater information for major Canadian cities.
Can you choose who provides water services?
In most locations in Canada you cannot choose your water provider. Local municipal governments and designated water companies manage water distribution. The water services are provided based on where you live.
What does wastewater mean based on Canadian regulations?
According to the Government of Canada, “The Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (the Regulations), under the Fisheries Act, address the largest point source of pollution in Canadian waters.” https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/wastewater/regulations.html
Those Regulations are established to reduce the level of pollutants going into Canadian waterways from wastewater. The purpose is to reduce the threats to human health, fish and water ecosystem.
The Regulations are implemented to set minimum sewage quality standards for suspended solids, carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, residual chlorine and un-ionized ammonia. Based on the government’s authorization, the release of wastewater is only allowed under strictly regulated conditions. Such standards are achievable through secondary wastewater treatment where the owners of the water systems are required to monitor and report the quality of the discharged water.
Is water a utility?
Water is considered a utility because of its essential role in sustaining quality daily life. Utility providers are responsible for delivering water services, such as treatment, distribution, and billing, to residential and commercial establishments.
A water utility also covers infrastructure like pipelines, treatment plants, and storage tanks, along with the maintenance of these systems to ensure reliable water delivery.
British Columbia
Water utilities are managed by each municipality in British Columbia. This means things like billing and rates are different depend on where you live:
- In Metro Vancouver, water is managed and billed by the City of Vancouver.
- In Surrey, water is provided by the City of Surrey.
- In Burnaby, water is also provided by Metro Vancouver.
- In Coquitlam, water is provided by the City of Coquitlam.
- In Abbotsford, water is provided by the City of Abbotsford.
- In Kelowna, residents are serviced by four different water providers: The City of Kelowna Water Utility, Glenmore Ellison Improvement District, Rutland Waterworks, and Black Mountain Irrigation District. There is a set water provider for each region. To find which one serves your neighbourhood, check this interactive map by the City of Kelowna.
- In Central Saanich, Sidney, and North Saanich, the Capital Regional District (CRD) is the bulk (wholesale) drinking water supplier.
- In Delta, water is provided by the City of Delta.
- In Nanaimo and other eight communities in central Vancouver Island, water is provided by the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN.)
- In Kamloops, water is provided by the City of Kamloops.
- In Chilliwack, water is provided by the City of Chilliwack.
- In Victoria, water is provided by Capital Regional District (CRD.)
- In Maple Ridge, water is provided by the City of Maple Ridge.
- In New Westminster, water is also provided by Metro Vancouver.
- In Price George, water is provided by the City of Prince George.
Another important note about water in BC is that all water is owned by the Crown, however, about 20,000 households are served by private utilities, which are regulated by the Comptroller of Water Rights.
Alberta
In Alberta there are three ways water utilities are managed: through municipal water utilities, cities treating and distributing their own water, and regional and commision based supply. That means billing and rates depend on where you live:
- In Edmonton water is provided by EPCOR Utilities, a municipality owned utility.
- In Calgary water is operated and provided by the city. (Bulk water services also cater to nearby communities such as Foothills County, Cochrane, Rocky View County, Strathmore, Airdrie, Chestermere and Tsuut’ina Nation.)
- In Red Deer water is operated and provided by the city through the North Red Deer Regional Water Services Commission (including catering to neighbouring municipalities like Lacombe, Blackfalds, Red Deer County, and Ponoka.
- In the Town of Peace River water is provided by its municipal infrastructure.
- In Fort Saskatchewan water is supplied by the Capital Region Northeast Water Services Commision.
- In the City of Beaumont water is provided by the Capital Region Southwest Water Services Commission.
- In the City of Leduc water is provided by the Capital Region Southwest Water Services Commission.
- In the Leduc County water is provided by the Capital Region Southwest Water Services Commission. (Including Edmonton International Airport.)
- In the town of Calmar water is provided by Capital Region Southwest Water Services Commission.
- In the Village of Hay Lakes water is provided by Capital Region Southwest Water Services Commission.
- In the town of Millet water is provided by Capital Region Southwest Water Services Commission.
Saskatchewan
Most cities in Saskatchewan manage their own water distribution, billing and treatment through the following municipal utilities departments:
- In Regina, water is managed by Regina’s Utilities Department, that is supplied with potable water by the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation.
- In the city of Moose Jaw water is supplied from Buffalo Pound with distribution handled by the city.
- In Saskatoon water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Prince Albert water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Swift Current water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Estevan water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Humboldt water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Lloydminster water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Martensville water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Meadow Lake water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Melfort water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Melville water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In North Battleford water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Warman water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Weyburn water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
- In Yorkton water is provided by the city’s municipal departments.
Manitoba
Water operation and distribution in Manitoba is provided with three categories: city-owned utilities, rural and regional cooperative systems, and Manitoba Water Services Board.
- In Brandon water is sourced from Assiniboine River and managed by the City of Brandon municipality.
- In Winnipeg water is managed and provided by the City of Winnipeg utility departments.
- In Thompson water is managed and provided by the City of Thompson utility departments.
- In Portage la Prairie water is managed and provided by the City of Portage la Prairie utility departments.
- In Selkirk water is managed and provided by the City of Selkirk utility departments.
- In Morden water is managed and provided by the City of Morden utility departments.
- In Winkler water is managed and provided by the City of Winkler utility departments.
- In Dauphin water is managed and provided by the City of Dauphin utility departments.
- In Virden water is managed and provided by the City of Virden utility departments.
- In Stonewall water is managed and provided by the City of Stonewall utility departments.
- In Melita water is managed and provided by Southwest Regional Water Co-op.
- In Two Borders water is managed and provided by Southwest Regional Water Co-op.
- In Brenda-Waskada water is managed and provided by Southwest Regional Water Co-op.
- In Rosser water is managed and provided by Cartier Regional Water Co-op.
- In West St. Paul water is managed and provided by Cartier Regional Water Co-op.
Manitoba Water Services Board is a Crown corporation that supports municipalities and water co-ops with development, financing and management of water and wastewater infrastructure.
New Brunswick
Communities, cities and towns in New Brunswick receive and operate water via the following providers:
- In Saint John water is provided and managed by the City of Saint John.
- In Quispamsis water is provided and managed by the Town of Quispamsis.
- In St. Stephen water is provided and operated by the Town of St. Stephen.
- In Sussex water is provided and operated by the Town of Sussex.
- In rural local governance units water is typically managed at the local level under provincial approval and oversight.
The New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government also oversee water quality regulations and municipal compliance.
Newfoundland and Labrador
In Newfoundland and Labrador community water and wastewater are managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change that oversees municipal compliance, establishes operational guidelines, issues infrastructure permits and develops frameworks for effective and safe water management.
- In St. John’s water is provided and operated by the City of St. John’s Public Works Department.
- In Mount Pearl water is provided and delivered by the city’s Public Works Department.
- Additionally, the Regional Water Services Committee coordinates water services among municipalities that include St. John’s, Mount Pearl, Paradise, Portugal Cove-St. Phillip’s and Conception Bay South.
- In smaller pit communities, Local Service Districts manage water and sewer utilities.
Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia water and wastewater is provided and operated via Halifax Regional Municipality, municipal-owned utilities, rural municipalities and is overseen by the Nova Scotia Department of Environment & Climate Change.
- In Halifax water is provided and operated by Halifax Water (the Halifax Regional Water Commission).
- In Wolfville water is governed by the Town Council.
- In Middleton water is managed by the Town of Middleton.
- In Amherst water is provided by the Town of Amherst Water Utility.
- In Bridgewater water is provided by the Town of Bridgewater.
- In Kentville water is provided by the Town of Kentville.
- In Yarmouth water is provided by the Town of Yarmouth.
- In Digby water is provided by the Town of Digby.
- In Windsor water is provided by the Town of Windsor.
- In Truro water is provided by the Town of Truro.
- In Lunenburg water is provided by the Town of Lunenburg.
- In Stellarton water is provided by the Town of Stellarton.
- In Shelburne water is provided by the Town of Shelburne.
- In Oxford water is provided by the Town of Oxford.
- In Pictou water is provided by the Town of Pictou.
- In Berwick water is provided by the Town of Berwick.
- In Port Hawkesbury water is provided by the Town of Port Hawkesbury.
- In Mulgrave water is provided by the Town of Mulgrave.
- In Stewiacke water is provided by the Town of Stewiacke.
- In Trenton water is provided by the Town of Trenton.
- In Westville water is provided by the Town of Westville.
- In Clark’s Harbour water is provided by the Town of Clark’s Harbour.
- In Annapolis Royal water is provided by the Town of Annapolis Royal.
The Nova Scotia Department of Environment & Climate Change issues construction and operational approvals for water treatment and distribution infrastructure, while the Utility and Review Board regulate municipal water utilities.
Ontario
While Ontario’s largest cities operate water services through municipal or regional utilities, medium-sized cities and smaller communities either manage their own utilities or through provincial municipal water utilities.
- In Toronto water is provided by Toronto Water.
- In Ottawa water is provided by the City of Ottawa Water Services.
- In Hamilton water is provided by the City of Hamilton Water.
- In Mississauga water is provided by the Region of Peel Water and Wastewater Division.
- In Brampton water is provided by the Region of Peel Water and Wastewater Division.
- In Caledon water is provided by the Region of Peel Water and Wastewater Division.
- In Markham water is provided by York Region Environmental Services.
- In Vaughan water is provided by York Region Environmental Services.
- In Richmond Hill water is provided by York Region Environmental Services.
- In Oshawa water is provided by the Regional Municipality of Durham Works Department.
- In Whitby water is provided by the Regional Municipality of Durham Works Department.
- In Ajax water is provided by the Regional Municipality of Durham Works Department.
- In Pickering water is provided by the Regional Municipality of Durham Works Department.
- In Oakville water is provided by Halton Region Water Services.
- In Burlington water is provided by Halton Region Water Services.
- In Milton water is provided by Halton Region Water Services.
- In Halton Hills water is provided by Halton Region Water Services.
- In London water is provided by London Water Services.
- In Kitchener water is provided by the Region of Waterloo.
- In Waterloo water is provided by the Region of Waterloo.
- In Cambridge water is provided by the Region of Waterloo.
- In Windsor water is provided by the Windsor Utilities Commission.
- In Kingston water is provided by Utilities Kingston.
- In Sudbury water is provided by Greater Sudbury Water/Wastewater Services.
- In Thunder Bay water is provided by Thunder Bay Water Authority (City Water Division).
- In Peterborough water is provided by Peterborough Utilities Group.
- In Guelph water is provided by City of Guelph Water Services.
- In Niagara Region water is provided by local municipalities of Niagara Region.
Water in smaller municipalities is regulated by the Ontario Clean Water Agency, which also operates and maintains water and wastewater systems.
Prince Edward Island
Unlike larger provinces, Prince Edward Island has a smaller water system. Municipalities are directly responsible for their water supply and distribution, with provincial oversight from the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action.
- In Charlottetown water is provided by Charlottetown Water and Sewer Utility.
- In Summerside water is provided by Summerside Water Utility.
- In Stratford water is provided by Stratford Water Utility.
- In Cornwall water is provided by Cornwall Water and Sewer Utility.
- In Kensington water is provided by the Town of Kensington.
- In Montague water is provided by the Town of Montague.
- In Souris water is provided by the Town of Souris.
- In Alberton water is provided by the Town of Alberton.
- In O’Leary water is provided by the Town of O’Leary.
- In Tignish water is provided by the Town of Tignish.
Quebec
In Québec, municipalities are responsible for water production, distribution, wastewater collection, and treatment.
Oversight, funding, and regulations are provided by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP).
- In Montreal water is provided by Ville de Montréal.
- In Quebec City water is provided by Ville de Québec.
- In Laval water is provided by Ville de Laval.
- In Gatineau water is provided by Ville de Gatineau.
- In Longueuil water is provided by Agglomération de Longueuil.
- In Sherbrooke water is provided by Ville de Sherbrooke.
- In Trois-Rivieres water is provided by Ville de Trois-Rivières.
- In Saguenay water is provided by Ville de Saguenay.
- In Drummondville water is provided by the city’s Usine de traitement d’eau (UTE).
- In Granby water is provided via the city’s Centrale de traitement d’eau potable.
- In Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu water is managed by the city’s Service des infrastructures et gestion des eaux.
- In Rimouski water is provided by the city’s municipal water utility.
- In Shawinigan water is provided and managed by the Ville de Shawinigan’s water utility.
- In Lévis water is provided by the City of Lévis.
- In Terrebonne water is provided by the Régie d’aqueduc intermunicipale des Moulins (RAIM).
Nunavut
Nunavut’s water management must consider its Arctic geography, remote communities and small population. Most communities in Nunavut rely on the local municipal system for water and wastewater, while the Nunavut Water and Wastewater Division provides oversight and infrastructure support. The Government of Nunavut Department of Community and Government Services (C&GS) provides funding, technical guidance, and training for water operators in remote communities, and ensures compliance with Canadian drinking water standards.
- In Iqaluit water is provided by the City of Iqaluit Water and Sewer Department.
- Communities such as Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Baker Lake, Cambridge Bay, Pangnirtung, Kugluktuk, Pond Inlet, and other hamlets have their own local water systems.
Northwest Territories
In the Northwest Territories, water services are largely municipal or community-operated. Meanwhile the Government of Northwest Territories (Municipal and Community Affairs) provides oversight, funding, and technical support.
- In Yellowknife water is provided by the City of Yellowknife Utilities Department.
- In Hay River water is provided by Town of Hay River Utilities Division.
- In Inuvik water is provided by the Town of Inuvik.
- Smaller communities such as Fort Smith, Fort McPherson, Tuktoyaktuk, Norman Wells, Fort Resolution and others operate local municipal water systems.
- Many small hamlets and settlements also rely on local wells and lakes for drinking water.
Yukon
In Yukon, water services are primarily municipal, with the Yukon Government – Community Services Department providing oversight, technical support, and funding for smaller communities.
- In Whitehorse water is provided by the City of Whitehorse.
- In Dawson water is provided by the City of Dawson
- In Watson Lake water is provided by the local municipal water system.
- In Haines Junction water is provided by the local municipal water system.
- In Carmacks water is provided by the local municipal water system.
- In Faro water is provided by the local municipal water system.
- In Mayo water is provided by the local municipal water system.
- In Teslin water is provided by the local municipal water system.
- In Old Crow water is provided by the local municipal water system.
Additionally, many remote settlements rely on private wells, small local intakes, water delivery by truck and septic system or small wastewater lagoons for drinking water and sewage treatment.
Reviewing commercial water costs
Looking to reduce your water costs? EnergyRates.ca can help you review and reduce your utility costs beyond water usage. Our experienced team of energy and water consultants can support you in comparing energy rates and plans for your commercial, large commercial or industrial operations. You can also check our Water Content Hub for everything water-related in Canada.
Contact us or call us at 1-855-635-9608 for a custom quote based on your water and energy needs.
