Water System - Townships

The county maintains a drinking water Quality Management System that demonstrates continued compliance with drinking water regulations and the County’s commitment to continual improvement in the provision of a safe, dependable, and sustainable supply of drinking water for its residents and businesses.

The Townships water system is comprised of 14 individual water systems. The Bright, Brownsville, Drumbo-Princeton, Embro, Innerkip, Lakeside, Mount Elgin, Oxford South, Plattsville, Tavistock and Thamesford water systems are all a Large Municipal Water system as defined by Ontario Regulation (O.Reg.) 170/03, whereas Beachville, Dereham Centre and Hickson are all considered Small Municipal Water systems. Each water system consists of water treatment plant(s) (WTP), each housing high lift pumps, monitoring equipment and treatment equipment for the production wells. Each WTP also includes varying types of disinfection and filtration treatment specific for each location. The water distribution network transports potable drinking water to homes and businesses. The distribution network consists of watermains, services, hydrants, valves, meters, reservoirs, water towers and a pressure reducing station.

Inventory

The replacement cost valuation for the linear assets in this portfolio are based on current tender prices, where available. The replacement cost valuation for vertical components is based on the latest information available, which includes current replacement costs, insurance valuations, inflation, and valuations from studies / assessments completed in prior years. Quantity changes are attributed to new assets and refinements and updates made to the inventory, ensuring more accurate and current data.

Condition

The percentage of assets in poor or critical condition has decreased from 13% as reported in the 2024 AMP to 12%. The percentage of assets in good or excellent condition has decreased from 71% as reported in the 2024 AMP to 67%, as a number of assets are now projected to be in fair condition. As assets continue to age their condition rating will decline until lifecycle strategies are triggered and completed.

Key Performance

The water distribution network transports potable drinking water to homes and businesses. It is intended that all water assets will be maintained, rehabilitated, and replaced to perform the same function and manage the same capacity as they are currently designed to do. To ensure levels of service are maintained, staff monitor impacts from changes to capacity demands to plan for changes to current practices and budget requirements.

Proposed Levels of Service Review

Information on the scenarios reviewed is contained within the AMP document. As the system’s reserve balance and proposed funding under all scenarios are sufficient to fund the short-term needs, the average expected condition of the portfolio is the same under all scenarios for nearly 50 years, which aligns with the 2025 Budget Survey responses where 62% of respondents indicated that the service level related to municipal water and wastewater services in the rural townships should be maintained. Drinking water systems have stricter regulatory requirements that must be adhered to, resulting in a lower risk tolerance.

Based on the analysis, staff are recommending Scenario D. The proposed level of service target is to fund the system at 80% of overall lifecycle needs. The use of PVC pipes for linear started becoming popular in the 1970’s; their useful life of 90 years is theoretical as this material has not been in use long enough to confirm the lifespan. Staff also identified an improvement area in 2024, to look at the lifecycle strategies for process assets as it may be beneficial in the long-term to incorporate various strategies and not anticipate a run-to-failure strategy on some of these assets. Once incorporated this may result in reductions to the annual investment required, as such staff feel it is not prudent to target the fully funded scenario at this time. Staff will continue monitoring asset conditions and risks to ensure the proposed service level does not negatively impact on the overall health and safety of residents through the operations of this service.

Funding Gap Analysis

Planned Investment Level

An estimated inflationary rate is used in the table below as the inflation rate used for the 2026 Budget is based on the rate as of June 30, 2025. A capital contribution resulting from growth, although marginal in nature based on a conservative estimate, has been included in the table below. Based on recent market fluctuations it is difficult to ascertain how quickly growth may happen, and thus when the additional rate revenue will be available for use towards operating and capital requirements. Slow or delayed growth may require further increases on rates to close the funding gap. Although interest rates are declining, the reserve balance will continue to earn interest and contribute to the planned investment for this portfolio.

Proposed Investment Change

In addition to the planned investment level changes, an increase in the contribution to the Water – Townships reserve of approximately 10% is proposed for 2026 through 2028, reducing to 5% for 2029 through 2035. Although this is a 10% increase in the reserve contribution, the result is an estimated $1.45 increase in the monthly fixed charge for the average residential user or $17.40 annually.

Comparison of required investment to proposed investment (millions)