Water / Wastewater Services

The Village of Burk’s Falls provides residents with safe, clean drinking water that is treated, monitored, and tested in accordance with provincial legislation, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 and Ontario Regulation 170/03 – Drinking Water Systems. These laws establish strict standards for water quality, sampling, reporting, and system operation. A link to the full legislation is provided below for public reference.

The Village of Burk’s Falls owns and operates the Water and Wastewater System that services residents within the Village, as well as a small number of households in the Township of Armour.

Water and Wastewater rates are set by Council following a detailed review of system needs. Incremental rate increases occur to offset rising provincially mandated testing requirements under O. Reg. 170/03, as well as ongoing infrastructure maintenance and upgrades needed to ensure reliable, high-quality service delivery.

Safe Drinking Act, 2002

Ontario Regulation 170/03- Drinking Water Systems

Water Leaks

From time to time, water leaks or water main breaks may occur within the Village’s water distribution system. When this happens, the Village of Burk’s Falls Public Works Department responds quickly and efficiently while maintaining all required safety and regulatory standards. Residents may notice temporary service interruptions, reduced water pressure, or Public Works crews working in the affected area.

For guidance on what to expect during a leak and what homeowners should know, please refer to Water Leaks: What You Should Know.

For real-time updates on active leaks or repairs, follow the Village on Facebook.

Fire Hydrants and System Flushing

The Village conducts routine fire hydrant inspections and system flushing to maintain water quality and ensure hydrants remain fully operational for emergency use. During flushing periods, residents may experience temporary drops in pressure or brief discoloration of water, which is normal and not harmful. Running cold water for a short time typically clears the system.

Hydrant flushing schedules are announced in advance and posted on the Village’s Facebook page to keep residents informed.

Your Utility Bill

The Village of Burk’s Falls Public Works Department conducts bi-monthly water meter readings using Smart Reader technology. This system allows meters to be read electronically from a device installed on the exterior of each home or building, eliminating the need for direct contact with residents. Consumption data is securely transmitted to the Finance Department for billing purposes.

Water bills are based on actual consumption. As water must pass through the residential water meter located inside the home to register on your bill, any increase in billed usage reflects an increase in water consumption.

Common household issues such as running toilets, leaking faucets, or unattended garden hoses can significantly increase water usage and result in higher bills. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can help prevent unexpected consumption increases.

By-Law No. 04-2022 Water and Sewer Rates

Email Billing

To register for utility email billing, complete the below form and submit as per instructions:

Payment Options For Your Utility Bill

The Village of Burk’s Falls offers several convenient methods for paying your Utility Bill, which includes Water, Wastewater, and Infrastructure Charge:

In Person at the Municipal Office
Payments can be made by cash, debit, or cheque. Credit cards are not accepted.
At Your Financial Institution
Payments are accepted in person at your bank or financial institution.
Online Banking or Telephone Banking
Add the payee “Burk’s Falls (Village) Utilities”.
Your Utility Account Number is the first four digits found on the upper right corner of your bill, beginning with “0”.
Pre-Authorized Payment (PAP)
Automatically withdraws the amount owing on the due date. Contact the Municipal Office to register.
E-Transfer
Send payments to treasurer@burksfalls.ca. Please ensure your Utility Account Number and address is included in the memo line to correctly apply your payment.

Pre-Authorized Payment Plan (see forms below)

Utility Pre-Authorized Payment (Application Form)

Utility Pre-Authorized Payment (Cancelation Form)

Managing Your Utility Account

The Village of Burk’s Falls requires that all changes to Utility Accounts be communicated in writing using the appropriate forms.

Tenant/Landlord Transfers
Landlords may transfer a Utility Account into a tenant’s name, allowing the tenant to be billed directly. To complete the transfer, the tenant must submit a deposit equal to three minimum billings and complete the Tenant-Landlord Utility Application. Property owners remain ultimately responsible for any outstanding balances exceeding the deposit.

Authorized Access to Account Information
If someone other than the property owner requires access to account information, written authorization by the owner must be provided using the Authorization to Access Property Utilities Form.

Property Sales
When a property is sold, it is the responsibility of the owner to contact the Village Office with details regarding the closing date and forwarding contact information. Please note that an administration fee applies for final meter reads and billing.

Guide to Household Water Conservation

Water is essential to life. While humans can survive weeks without food, we can only last a few days without water. Every system in the body relies on it. About half of the water we need comes from the beverages we drink, while the remainder comes from the food we consume.

The water we use daily—for drinking, cooking, cleaning, or watering gardens—has been part of the Earth’s natural cycle for billions of years. The water in your morning coffee or an afternoon apple may contain molecules that once existed in the Jurassic era.

By reducing water use and practicing pollution prevention, we help maintain the natural water cycle and protect this vital, life-sustaining resource.

For practical tips and strategies on conserving water at home, please refer to the Household Guide to Conserving Water.

Think Before You Flush: Tips For Preserving The Village Water/ Wastewater System

What to Flush

Only flush pee, poo and toiletpaper down the toilet. The wastewater treatment system is designed to process these safely. Everything else goes in the bin!

What Not To Flush

If flushed, items such as wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products, hair and dental floss can cause damage in our wastewater treatment system causing expensive and time consuming repairs to be completed.