MUNICIPAL WATER USE AND PRICING IN ONTARIO, 1983–1994

Abstract

Water use and pricing data for Ontario were abstracted from Environment Canada’s Municipal Water Use and Pricing Surveys. Five surveys (1983, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1994) were included in the time series analysis. Over 300 Ontario municipalities, representing 85% of Ontario’s population, were represented in the survey results. This paper aggregates all municipal responses into one Ontario-wide data set. Some of the trends include: an increase in per capita residential water use and a decrease in total per capita water use; increasing domestic water use as a percentage of total municipal withdrawals; slight increases in the level of water metering and wastewater treatment; an increase in the number of municipalities using progressive rate structures (although over one-quarter of all urban residents are still charged a flat rate for water use); and an increase in volumetric rates charged to customers and average monthly water and wastewater bills. While the survey detected some positive changes in water use and pricing practices in Ontario, significantly more progress is required to generate revenues to finance required improvements to water-related infrastructure and send the appropriate price signals to encourage more efficient water use.