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Rates & Charges

For water, wastewater & stormwater services provided by Halifax Water

As a municipally-owned utility, operating on a cost of service basis, Halifax Water does not have profit built into its rates. The funds collected are the funds required for operations, capital investment and debt financing to provide quality service for our customers.

2022 General Rate Application

On October 31, 2022, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) released its decision regarding Halifax Water’s General Rate Application, which was filed in early 2022. Based on this decision, rates for the average residential family will increase by approximately 3.6 percent in December 2022 and 3.6 percent in April 2023. Click here to see how new rates will appear on your bill.

Learn more

How new rates will appear on your bill

On your next Halifax Water bill, you may see multiple lines for water, wastewater, or stormwater charges on your bill. This is because part of your billing period took place when the old rates were in effect, and part of the same billing period took place after the rate change.

All water, wastewater and stormwater services provided before April 1, 2023, are charged at the old rates.

All water, wastewater and stormwater services provided on or after April 1, 2023, are charged at the new rates.

 

Bill Sample - Rate Change Example

Stormwater Rates

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER STORMWATER RATES

Halifax Water customers who receive stormwater services will see two stormwater charges on their Halifax Water bills:

  • The Site-Related Flow (SRF) charge is a Halifax Water charge based on the stormwater that flows from each private property into the Halifax Water stormwater system. This charge is calculated based on the impervious area on the property. Properties with more impervious area (ie. roofs, asphalt, concrete, and packed gravel) would pay more than those with less impervious area.
  • *The HRM Right-of-Way (ROW) charge: Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) funds its portion of stormwater expenses through a ROW charge. Halifax Water collects this charge on behalf of Halifax Regional Municipality.
     

Effective April 1, 2023, per a decision by Halifax Regional Council, the HRM ROW charge will be moving from Halifax Water bills to the municipal tax bill. Learn more here.


 

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER STORMWATER RATES

Tier Annual SRF Charge
Before December 1, 2022
Annual SRF Charge
On/After December 1, 2022
Annual SRF Charge
On/After April 1, 2023

*Annual HRM ROW Charge
(No Change)

Tier 1: Less than 50m2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Tier 2: 50m2 - 200m2 $14.00 $16.00 $19.00 $40.00
Tier 3: 210m2 - 400m2 $27.00 $32.00 $38.00 $40.00
Tier 4: 410m2 - 800m2 $54.00 $64.00 $76.00 $40.00
Tier 5: Greater than 810m2 $81.00 $96.00 $115.00 $40.00
Culvert Service Only $14.00 $16.00 $19.00 $40.00

 

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER sTORMWATER RATES

Non-residential properties are charged a different Site-Related Flow Charge based on the fact that there is more variation in their impact on the stormwater system depending on their size, characteristics, and property use. This means it is important to measure these properties individually, and also provide a credit system or adjustment mechanism to refine how non-residential properties are charged.

 

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER STORMWATER RATES

  Annual SRF Charge *Annual HRM ROW Charge
(No Change)
Before December 1, 2022 On/After December 1, 2022 On/After April 1, 2023
Impervious Area $0.135/m2 Impervious Area $0.145/m2 Impervious Area $0.173/m2 Impervious Area $40.00/year
Culvert Service Only* $14.00/year $16.00/year $19.00/year $40.00/year

 

*Properties with a culvert that are not billed the site-related charge will receive an annual culvert charge.

Learn more about Stormwater Services

Water & Wastewater Service Base Charges

 

WATER & WASTEWATER SERVICE BASE CHARGES

Water and wastewater monthly charges based on meter size in inches.
These base service charges did not change in the 2022 General Rate Application.

Size Water Wastewater
15 mm (5/8")
(Typical Residential)
$13.00/month $14.00/month
19 mm (3/4") $18.00/month $20.00/month
25 mm (1") $29.00/month $33.00/month
38 mm (1.5") $55.00/month $64.00/month
50 mm (2") $85.00/month $103.00/month
75 mm (3") $170.00/month $206.00/month
100 mm (4") $264.00/month $321.00/month
150 mm (6") $527.00/month $641.00/month
200 mm (8") $946.00/month $1154.00/month
250 mm (10") $1575.00/month $1923.00/month

Metered Water & Wastewater Service

Halifax Water customers with a water meter are charged the applicable rates below for their water consumption and wastewater discharge. To learn more about how your water meter works, click here.

 

METERED WATER CONSUMPTION & WASTEWATER DISCHARGE RATES

Water and wastewater volumetric rates are based on the amount of water measured by your water meter.

1m3 = 1000 litres

Effective Date Water Consumption Wastewater Discharge
Before December 1, 2022 $0.976/m3 $2.073/m3
On/After December 1, 2022 $1.017/m3 $2.189/m3
On/After April 1, 2023 $1.128/m3 $2.259/m3

Non-Metered Water & Wastewater Service

Customers without a water meter are charged the Non-Metered Service rates for their water and wastewater services. Water and wastewater non-metered service rates are based on the projected usage of the customer, as estimated by Halifax Water based on the best information available, including comparison with similar customers.

 

 

NON-METERED WATER CONSUMPTION & WASTEWATER DISCHARGE RATES
Typical residential water service connections are 15 mm and are charged that rate.

Effective Date Water Service Size Water Consumption Rate Wastewater Discharge Rate
Before December 1, 2022 15 mm
(Typical Residential)
$26.00/month
$78.00/quarter
$42.00/month
$126.00/quarter
19 mm $63.00/month
$189.00/quarter
$110.00/month
$330.00/quarter
25 mm $116.00/month
$348.00/quarter
$205.00/month
$615.00/quarter
On/After December 1, 2022 15 mm
(Typical Residential)
$27.00/month
$81.00/quarter
$44.00/month
$132.00/quarter
19 mm $63.00/month
$189.00/quarter
$114.00/month
$342.00/quarter
25 mm $116.00/month
$348.00/quarter
$214.00/month
$642.00/quarter
On/After April 1, 2023 15 mm
(Typical Residential)
$29.00/month
$87.00/quarter
$45.00/month
$132.00/quarter
19 mm $67.00/month
$201.00/quarter
$115.00/month
$345.00/quarter
25 mm $124.00/month
$372.00/quarter
$218.00/month
$654.00/quarter

 

Building Fire Protection System Annual Fees

 

Building Fire Protection System Annual Fees

Building Fire Protection System fees are charged annually and are based on the size of the fire protection water service.

Fire Service Size Before December 1, 2022 On/After December 1, 2022 On/After April 1, 2023
50 mm $68.00 $69.00 $69.00
75 mm $170.00 $170.00 $170.00
100 mm $269.00 $272.00 $275.00
150 mm $544.00 $582.00 $619.00
200 mm $697.00 $801.00 $904.00
250 mm $697.00 $801.00 $904.00
300 mm $697.00 $801.00 $904.00

Regional Development Charges (RDC)

This charge applies to any new building or expansion of an existing building that connects to Halifax Water’s central water and/or wastewater system. This charge also applies to an un-serviced lot of land, occupied by a building, existed prior to July 14, 2014, when the building is connected to the water and/or wastewater system.

Learn more about the RDC

*An adjustment for CPI will be made annually to the RDC on April 1.

As of April 1, 2023, regional development charges are:

  In effect before April 1, 2023 In effect as of April 1, 2023
Water RDC $1791.07 per unit $1921.82 per unit
Wastewater RDC $5710.01 per unit $6126.84 per unit
  In effect before April 1, 2023 In effect as of April 1, 2023
Water RDC $1202.95 per unit $1290.77 per unit
Wastewater RDC $3835.08 per unit $4115.04 per unit
  In effect before April 1, 2023 In effect as of April 1, 2023
Water RDC $8.84 per square metre $9.49 per square metre
Wastewater RDC $28.18 per square metre $30.24 per square metre

Other Rates & Charges

INTEREST CHARGES

  • 1.1% per month (14.0% per annum)

 

Disconnection service icon
DISCONNECTION OR RECONNECTION OF WATER SERVICE

During regular business hours:

  • $55.00

Outside of regular business hours:

  • $210.00
NEW WATER, WASTEWATER OR STORMWATER ACCOUNT icon
NEW WATER, WASTEWATER OR STORMWATER ACCOUNT

Setup fee for all new accounts:

  • $25.00
BULK FILL STATION RATES icon
BULK FILL STATION RATES

To access bulk water you must have a pre-paid account.
Bulk water rates are: $2.35/m3
*plus an annual permit fee of $115.00/vehicle

DISHONORED PAYMENTS icon
DISHONORED PAYMENTS (NSF)

Halifax Water's Non-Sufficient Funds charge:

  • $25.00 + Bank Charges
THEFT OF SERVICE icon
THEFT OF SERVICE

Halifax Water may charge penalties in addition to applicable water charges for each illegal water connection as follows:

  • 1st offence: $300.00
  • 2nd offence: $750.00
CUSTOMER (FLOW) MONITORING SERVICE icon
CUSTOMER (FLOW) MONITORING SERVICE

This monitoring service is available for Halifax Water customers who are large water users and have private distribution systems. It is meant to monitor the metered flow and report abnormal water usage to the customer:

  • $120.00 per month, per meter
COPY OF CUSTOMER BILL icon
COPY OF CUSTOMER BILL

Bills issued outside the regular billing cycle:

  • $12.00 per copy