Water and sewer (wastewater) services are not financed through property taxes. The municipality of the Town of Pelham must raise sufficient water and sewer revenues to fully recover operational costs and required upkeep.

For all ratepayers on the municipal water system, the Town currently issues a utility (water) bill every two months.

Pelham rates remain among the lowest in Niagara.

View the current water and wastewater user fees and charges here.

Sign up for eBilling View your utility bill online  Pre-authorized Payment

Billing and Payments

When are utility bills issued?

Utility bills are provided to residents every two months; January, March, May, July, September, and November.

Is e-billing available for utility bills?

E-billing is available and can be set-up on the accounts by completing the request form.

 

Complete the form here.

How can residents pay the utility (water) bill?

Bills can be paid through one of the following ways:

  1. Through your financial institution (including online banking or telephone banking)
  2. Cheque payment (mail or drop box)
  3. Pre-authorized payment
  4. By credit card through Paymentus

Through Your Financial Institution

Payment of Town accounts can be made at any financial institution through on-line banking over the internet, telephone banking or paying in person at the branch. When paying through online or telephone banking, please use  your 9-digit account number when paying your utility bill.Please note that all payments must be made within 3 business days of the date due to ensure that the payment is received by the Town before late payment charges accrue. 

Cheque Payment

Do not send cash by mail or drop box. Cheques should be made payable to the “Town of Pelham”. The account number should be written on the front of the cheque and bill payment stub attached to ensure payment is applied to your account. Cheques sent by mail are processed the date received. To ensure no late charges accrue, allow sufficient mailing time. Cheques can also be placed in an envelope in the drop box located at the lower entrance to Town Hall, adjacent to Peace Park. All mail will be collected from the box at 4:30 p.m. on the due date and any mail collected after that time will accrue late payment charges.

Pre-Authorized Payment

Pre-authorized automatic withdrawal payment plans offer an easy, hassle-free payment option. Payments are always made on-time, avoiding any late payment charges and residents do not have to wait in line to make payments. There are no administration fees or charges by the Town to join any of these plans. To enrol in a pre-authorized payment plan, please visit www.pelham.ca/pap to review the terms and conditions and complete the application form.

Returned/Rejected Payments and Penalties

All returned/rejected payments will be charged a fee of $30.This includes NSF payments and stopped payments.  All payments made after 4:30 p.m. on the date due will be subject to penalty at a rate of 1.25% monthly, charged on the first day of each month until paid.

Are Pre-authorized automatic withdrawal payment plans available?

Pre-authorized automatic withdrawal payment plans offer an easy, hassle-free payment option. Payments are always made on-time, avoiding any late payment charges and residents do not have to wait in line to make payments.

There are no administration fees or charges by the Town to join any of these plans.

 

To enrol in a pre-authorized payment plan, please visit www.pelham.ca/pap to review the terms and conditions and complete the application form.

 

Pre-authorized payment plan terms and conditions 

Water Accounts

Notice of water amounts owing are made available to account holders before the due date. On the due date indicated on the water bill, the Town of Pelham will automatically withdraw the amount due from the banking institution indicated on the application form.

Penalties

All rejected payments will be charged a fee of $30.00. This includes NSF payments and stopped payments. The Town may cancel continuation in the plan chosen as a result of this default at its discretion; however two rejected payments within a twelve month period will result in automatic plan cancellation.

How to Enrol

Fill out the Application for Pre-Authorized Withdrawal. Follow the instructions on the application. 

How to Withdraw

Provide 30 days written notice to the Town of Pelham Finance Department.

How does the Town determine the water/sewer rates each year?

In 2018, BMA Management Consulting was hired by the Town to complete a water and wastewater rate study to ensure the infrastructure can be properly maintained and financially sustainable.

 

The study provided rate recommendations to continue to provide service for Pelham residents.

 

View the current water and wastewater user fees and charges here.

Where can residents view their utility billing?

Residents can view billings by visiting their account through the online services portal.

 

View the portal here.

What are the fixed charges on the utility billing?

Fixed charges are applied for water and sewer based on the size of the meter servicing the property. This appears as WATER FIXED or SEWER FIXED on the utility billing. Fixed costs are set to cover expenses such as; meter readings, water quality testing, meter repairs, capital infrastructure and customer service.

What is the water usage on the utility billing?
Water usage is billed based on the water volume used by the property, shown as the "Consumption" amount on the billing. The consumption is billed at the usage rate and appears as WATER USAGE. The charges are based on the actual meter readings, completed every two months. Readings are measured in cubic metres; One cubic metre equals 1000 litres or 220 gallons of water.
What is the sewer usage on the utility billing?
Sewer usage refers to all used water (flushing toilets, bathing, laundry) that enters the sewer system. The sewer usage charges are based on the property's meter reading and cover the costs of sewer collection and treatment. This appears as SEWER USAGE on the billing.

Meter Information

How can the water meter be read?

It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the reading for the actual reading bill is reflective of the actual usage. The owner should check their actual reading against the water meter reading. Information on how to read your RF meter is provided below.

The Town of Pelham uses Radio Frequency Water Meters for all metered water accounts.

These meters provide residents with proactive consumption details that will highlight leaks within their internal plumbing system.

Information on how to read you water meter is shown below.

 

How to read your meter instructions, for a verbal description contact the water clerk

Leak Tips

How to view the leak detection feature on a water meter?

It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the reading for the actual reading bill is reflective of the actual usage. The owner should check their actual reading against the water meter reading. Information on how to read your RF meter is provided below.

The Town of Pelham uses Radio Frequency Water Meters for all metered water accounts.

These meters provide residents with proactive consumption details that will highlight leaks within their internal plumbing system.

Information on how to read you water meter is shown below.

 

How to read your meter instructions, for a verbal description contact the water clerk

How can residents reduce water consumption?

A faucet that drips one drop of water per second can waste nearly 34L of water a day. You can stop dripping faucets by turning them off completely. If it is still dripping, a repair will be required.

How can residents determine a toilet leak?

Toilet leaks can account for 90 per cent of leaks in residential plumbing. To check for toilet leaks, remove the toilet tank cover and put in 5-10 drops of food colouring or a dye test tablet. Wait 15-30 minutes. If any colouring leaks into the toilet bowl then you have a leak that should be repaired.  

Moving

What needs to be done if a resident is moving?
Property owners are to notify the Water Billing Clerk prior to the closing date to receive a final meter reading and billing.

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