Today we are going to learn about the Waterloo high water bill adjustment.
At WaterSmart, we have over 25 years of experience in the water softener industry and we'd love to share our expertise with you.
We are going to take a closer look at the adjustment, what it entails, why it came about and how you can apply. So, let's get started.
Waterloo High Water Bill Adjustment: Learn the facts
What the Waterloo High Water Bill Adjustment Policy Entails
The Waterloo high water bill adjustment offers financial relief for customers who have an unexpected and abnormally high water bill. This could be as a result of an undetected leak in their:
Toilets
Faucets
Fixtures
Other Plumbing
Qualifying residents will receive a rebate of 50% of the amount of their water consumption that is above their normal 12 month average.
For example, if your average water bill is $125 over 12 months and you suddenly get a bill for $500 because your toilet was leaking and you didn't know about it, then the city would cover half of $375 ($500 - $125 = amount over your normal average bill) or $187.50.
So, in effect, you and the city would be splitting the difference of the overage.
You could qualify for an adjustment of your water bill if your toilet was leaking and you didn’t realize it
Restrictions that Apply
There are some restrictions that apply to the Waterloo high water bill adjustment policy. These include:
3X Your Normal Bill: Your water bill has to be at least 3 times higher than your normal average bill over 12 months. For example, if you average bill is $100 then to qualify, your high bill would need to be at least $300.
Single Family Homes: This program only applies if you live in a detached home, duplex, or triplex. Your property cannot be used for industrial, commercial, institutional, or multi-residential purposes.
Not Vacant: If your property was vacant or if it was unattended for more than 5 days when the charges happened then you don't qualify.
Once Every 10 Years: You can only take advantage of this adjustment once per decade.
90 Days: You need to apply for this adjustment within 90 days of getting your high water bill.
Regular Water Usage: You cannot get an adjustment if you were filling your pool, hot tubs, ice rinks, irrigation systems, watering your lawn, or similar usages.
$2000 Maximum: The maximum relief that you can qualify for is $2,000.
You can’t get an adjustment for filling a swimming pool or hot tub
Why the Waterloo High Water Bill Adjustment Was Enacted
The Waterloo high water bill adjustment was unanimously voted by Waterloo council and it came into effect in June of 2019.
The adjustment was brought about in response to the high number of Waterloo residents who experience an unusually high and surprise water bill. According to Mayor Dave Jaworsky, "this happens more than 400 times a year, on average."
The Waterloo high water bill adjustment has two main purposes:
1. To Show Compassion: The council understands that undetected leaks can happen from time to time and the resulting water bill can be very upsetting and can cause financial hardship for you when you are not expecting such a high bill.
2. To Be a Good Business Practice: Before the Waterloo high water bill adjustment came into effect, the city had to spend time and money arguing with "upset customers, and defending its demand for full payment.”
Having this adjustment will actually save the city the high cost of trying to get payment for these types of charges and will result in a happier customer experience.
The city is showing compassion for those who have a unexpected high water bill
How to Receive Your Waterloo High Water Bill Adjustment
If you think you qualify for the Waterloo high water bill adjustment, you can fill out the online form and submit your request online.
You can also print off the form once you have entered all the fields and mail it to the City. To do this, simply right click on the form and select "Print." Here is the mailing address:
City of Waterloo, City Utilities
265 Lexington Court
PO Box 337, STN Waterloo
Waterloo, ON, N2J 4A8
Where Will the Money Come from to Pay for the Waterloo High Water Bill Adjustment?
The City will spend up the $50,000 annually in public funds to pay for the adjustment. The City believes that this cost will actually be less than the amount of money that would have been spent in the past having to take steps to collect the high bills such as:
Visiting customers homes
Contacting the customers more than once for payment
Responding to customers who challenge the charges
Several cities also have a program similar to the Waterloo high water bill adjustment
For Further Information and Questions
If you have more questions or would like more information on the Waterloo high water bill adjustment you can:
Call the City of Waterloo at 519-886-2310 or TTY 1-866-786-3941, Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
You can also email the city at waterservicesweb@waterloo.ca
Need to Stop a Plumbing Leak? Contact WaterSmart
If you have a plumbing leak, don't ignore it. It could cost be affecting your water bill and the water damage if left unrepaired could result in a more costly repair down the road.
Contact the plumbing experts at WaterSmart. At WaterSmart we are a full-service plumbing company that can fix any type of plumbing problem you may have and at a price that you can afford.
WaterSmart Cares about the Water Your Family Uses
A water softener can help you solve your hard water problem. The professionals at WaterSmart can help you choose the most effective water softener for the level of hardness in your particular area.
We have been servicing the KW region for more than 25 years, so we understand the special requirements and settings necessary to ensure that your new water softener will function with maximum efficiency.
If you are wondering whether or not your softener is working well, then you can bring us a sample of water and we’ll test it for free!
"What a great experience!! I did a search on the internet, called regarding the price of a water softener and the next day it was installed and we had soft water again. Paul removed the old softener, installed and setup the new one and was out in just over an hour. He also noted that the grounding of water pipe was not done by previous installer and he corrected that as well. Cost was the same as softener that was installed 14 years ago - I am impressed."
- Larry Roes
