Water System - Townships
The County maintains a diverse portfolio of assets necessary to produce and supply safe and clean drinking water. 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, reliable, 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), 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, pressure boosting stations, reservoirs, and water towers.
Inventory
| Asset Component | Unit | Current Inventory | Replacement Cost |
| Production Well and Water Treatment Plant | site | 26 | $23,548,705 |
| Storage Structures | bldg | 16 | 22,300,386 |
| Other Assets | each | 13 | 2,822,358 |
| Equipment | total | N/A | 21,533,222 |
| Watermain (﹤416mm) | metre | 199,720 | 101,865,717 |
| Watermain (﹥=416mm) | metre | 134 | 176,928 |
| Water Service Connection | each | 8,561 | 27,291,193 |
| Hydrant | each | 547 | 7,732,939 |
| Valve | each | 1,643 | 7,123,063 |
| Water Meter | each | 7,551 | 3,443,256 |
| Total Replacement Cost | $217,837,767 | ||
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.
Condition
The assessment approach for our water assets utilizes a combination of physical assessments, asset attributes, such as material and sizing, as well as established anticipated useful lives.
The percentage of assets in poor or critical condition has increased from 9% as reported in the 2022 AMP to 13%. The percentage of assets in good or excellent condition has decreased from 77% as reported in the 2022 AMP to 71%. As assets continue to age their condition rating will decline until lifecycle strategies are triggered and completed.
Key Performance
| Key Service Attribute | LOS Statement | Performance Measure | 2022 | 2023 | Target |
| Safety | Providing efficient and safe drinking water and supports fire protection | % of properties within the system boundary connected to the municipal water system | 93% | 94% | TBD |
| Reliability | Providing water services with minimal interruptions | The number of connection-days per year where a boil water advisory notice is in place compared to the total number of properties connected to the municipal water system. | 2106 connection-days compared to 7,020 connections | 1532 connection-days compared to 7,520 connections | TBD |
| The number of connection-days per year due to watermain breaks compared to the total number of properties connected to the municipal water system. | 280 connection-days compared to 7,020 connections | 194 connection-days compared to 7,520 connections | TBD |
Funding Gap Analysis
This portfolio is currently funded through an annual contribution to the Water - Townships reserve, by water rates in the various township systems, along with an annual allocation of interest earned.
The graph illustrates the anticipated asset management needs (expenditures) and anticipated funding for the 10-year period of 2024-2033, reflecting an approximate $9.5 million deficit in funding availability over the period.
Included in the projected non-lifecycle needs are projects related to manganese filtration. The province is expected to pass additional legislation regulating manganese levels that the County will be required to meet. While these projects will be partially eligible for Development Charge funding, it is not anticipated that the province will provide any grant funding towards implementing the new requirements. The existing system will be required to fund the majority of the project costs. The deficit within the 2024 to 2033 period may be partially managed through the issuance of debentures, deferring some of the funding requirement to the 2034 to 2043 period. Consideration will need to be given to the lifecycle needs in the 2034 to 2043 as part of this decision-making process.
It should be noted that the current investment falls short of the annual required investment. In accordance with the Water and Wastewater Rates Policy, the annual contribution to reserve should increase annually with inflation.