Drinking Water

• Niagara-on-the-Lake Drinking Water System (Large Municipal Residential)

  The Niagara-on-the-Lake system receives treated water from the Niagara Region’s Decew Falls Water Treatment Plant in St. Catharines and the Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant, both of which are regionally owned and operated. The Niagara-on-the-Lake system conveys water to approximately 15,000 residents through an estimated 200 kilometres of Town-owned watermains.

  Water Facts

  The Niagara-on-the-Lake Drinking Water System includes:

  • 200 km of watermains
  • 1386 fire hydrants
  • 1358 valves
  • Two water-filling stations
• Bevan Heights Drinking Water System (Small Municipal Residential)

  The Bevan Heights Drinking Water System is much smaller than the Niagara-on-the-Lake Drinking Water System. It receives its treated water from the Niagara Region’s Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant via the City of Niagara Falls drinking water distribution system. The Bevan Heights system distributes drinking water to approximately 157 residents, and includes around two kilometres of mainly PVC watermains.

  Water Facts

  • The Bevan Heights Drinking Water System includes:
  • Two kms of watermains
  • 16 fire hydrants
  • 19 valves 
• Water Sampling, Testing and Monitoring

  The treated drinking water within the Town’s two distribution systems is tested for E.coli, total coliforms, Heterotrophic plate count (HPC), free chlorine residual, trihalomethanes (THMs), pH and lead and Haloacetic acids (HAAs).

  The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s drinking water continually meets the Drinking Water Quality Standards set out by the Province of Ontario, proving that the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake provides safe drinking water of high quality.

  Sampling, testing and monitoring results are summarized in reports, which are required to be prepared and published annually and are available on our Water Reports page.

• Drinking Water Licensing

  In the findings of the Walkerton Inquiry, Justice O’Connor recommended that municipal drinking water systems owners obtain a licence to operate their systems and incorporate quality management into their operations. To meet this recommendation, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) developed the Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. All municipalities in Ontario that supply drinking water must have a Licence for their system. The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has valid licenses for both of it's drinking water systems.

  In order to obtain a Licence, municipalities are required to have:

  • a Drinking Water Works Permit
  • an Operational Plan
  • Accreditation of the Operating Authority (third party audit of the Drinking Water Quality Management System)
  • a Financial Plan

  The Town's operating authority has Full Scope - Entire DWQMS accreditation. 

• Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS)

  Implementation of the Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) is part of the new Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program. A Quality Management System (QMS) consists of a set of policies, procedures and objectives that direct and control an organization with respect to quality. These policies, procedures and objectives are documented in the Town’s Operational Plan. A QMS helps to identify and prioritize risks, improves communication and team work, and provides procedures to enhance consistency and reduce errors.

• Operational Plan

  The purpose of the Operational Plan is to document the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Drinking Water Quality Management System (policies, procedures and objectives) to help ensure that safe drinking water is supplied to all of its customers. The operational plan applies to all drinking water related operations at the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Bevan Heights drinking water systems. Copies of the Operational Plan are accessible to the public. Hard copies are available at the Town Administration Building (1593 Four Mile Creek Road) or at the Public Works Building (3 Lorraine Street) in Virgil.

• Financial Plan

  • Water System Financial Plan 2020
  • Water System Financial Plan 2010
  • Appendices to Water System Financial Plan
• Town’s Drinking Water Quality Management Policy

  View the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Drinking Water Policy.

  For more information on the Drinking Water Quality Management Standard, visit the Province of Ontario's website.

  For a Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program overview, visit the Province of Ontario's website. 

  Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

• Regular Hours of Operation

  Maintenance staff: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays

  Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays 

  Bulk Water Stations Hours of Operation

  Concession 5 Road Station is open from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily and the Walker Road Station is open 24/7.

• Available Documents

  • 2024 Water/Wastewater Rates 
  • Water System Management By-Law No. 814-77
• Applications

  • Bulk Water Application
  • Bulk Water Application Operating Instructions
  • Hydrant Irrigation Application          
  • Storm Service Application         
  • Wastewater Service Application          
  • Water Service Application