Merri Aiken For Town of South Bruce Peninsula Council

In all honesty, I was not familiar with what some residents pay for their water and sewage. I am part of the Town that maintains their own water and septic needs. I found I have a lot to learn about the experience of many neighbours. So I’ve started.

There are five water drinking systems in our Town. Currently, they serve around 2000 people and all feel increased usage pressures during our tourist season, but are able to meet current demands. They are: Amabel-Sauble Drinking Water System, Foreman Drinking Water System, Huron Woods Drinking Water System, Oliphant Drinking Water System and Wiarton Drinking Water System. There is one wastewater system and that is Wiarton Wastewater Collection and Treatment.

Online, you can look at the 2026 Rates. Wiarton and Oliphant are priced the same and Amabel, with its multiple water systems, has its own rate schedule. These rates are significant but there has been announcement in the last few weeks that Town of South Bruce Peninsula has qualified for a provincial grant that will allow these rates to be decreased for the next year. That was fantastic news and the result of some hard work, no doubt.

It also means that the decrease has an expiration. And we will be right back here.

The next council should again review the rates. Regular reviews encourage transparency and accountability.

Vacant properties were a mentioned concern. It is a balance to set a rate for a property that isn’t using water or sewage currently but still has the opportunity to do so at a future date. Having access to those services are considered attractive features to those looking for real estate in our area. Installation of this infrastructure was at a significant cost and consistent upper government funding has been challenging to secure. Currently, these pieces of property is set at the lowest rate, excluding active development.