Water & Wastewater
Oxford County owns and is responsible for the management, maintenance, and long-term capital planning for the County's water and wastewater systems. Oxford County operates all Water Treatment facilities and Wastewater Treatment Plants. The City of Woodstock and the Town of Tillsonburg operate portions of the water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Oxford County operates and maintains the water distribution and wastewater collection system in the remaining Area Municipalities and select portions of the City of Woodstock and Town of Tillsonburg systems.
If you have questions about water quality or meter issues, please contact your billing agent as shown on your utility bill. For after-hour emergency calls, find the numbers for your area listed on the Billing page.
Questions? Contact Public Works at 1-800-755-0394 from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
What's new
Drinking water system annual reports |
The 2023 Annual Water System Performance Summary Reports are now online. Oxford County treated and supplied approximately 10.7 million cubic metres of clean, safe and reliable drinking water to 21 communities through 17 municipal drinking water systems last year. At the time of the February 28 report to County Council, results were available for eight of Oxford’s municipal drinking water system inspections completed by Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Six systems received 100% inspection ratings (Brownsville, Embro, Hickson, Mount Elgin, Oxford South and Thamesford); one system received a 97% rating (Lakeside); and one system received a 96% rating (Beachville). The remaining systems inspection report ratings were either not available at the time of the Council report or the inspection had not yet been carried out. See the 2023 drinking water system annual reports online here. |
Annual Wastewater System Performance Reports and Annual Biosolids Summary Report |
The 2023 Annual Wastewater System Performance Reports and the 2023 Annual Biosolids Summary Report are now available online. The County’s nine wastewater treatment plants demonstrated continued exceptional performance in 2023. Based on approximately 4,829 effluent samples collected and analyzed in 2023, three of the County’s nine municipal wastewater treatment plants achieved 100% compliance ratings, with the remaining six receiving the following: Thamesford 99%, Tillsonburg 98%, Woodstock 98%, Norwich 96%, Plattsville 96% and Drumbo 93%.
Read the 2023 Annual Wastewater System Performance Reports and 2023 Annual Biosolids Summary Report |
2024 water and wastewater rates |
Starting January 1, 2024, updated water and wastewater rates will be in effect in Oxford County. Rates are calculated during the annual budget process and determined based on your location and local water/wastewater systems. You will see a notification of the new rates in the messages section of your first water bill in January. Learn more about the rates for your community and find the water/wastewater calculator to estimate your monthly bill on the Water & Wastewater Rates page. |
2024 Water and Wastewater Master Plan now online |
The 2024 Water and Wastewater Master Plan is now online in the Reports and publications section of the website. The plan sets out Oxford County's long-term water and wastewater approach to managing current servicing needs as well as accommodating future projected population and employment growth to the year of 2046. Public participation and feedback played an important part in identifying the servicing needs and priorities of communities throughout Oxford County. Thank you to everyone who took part!
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Backflow Prevention Program |
On June 14, 2023, Oxford County Council endorsed Oxford County By-law No. 6544-2023 Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention to further safeguard the municipal drinking water system by preventing contamination from non-drinking water sources. Backflow events can significantly impact residents, businesses, and the environment by impacting water quality, posing a health risk to consumers, and causing service interruptions. Oxford County is looking for plumbers certified by the Ontario Water Works Association or other governing body who can perform cross connection control surveys and backflow device testing within the County. Successful applicants must be qualified to conduct work in accordance with the Oxford County Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention by-law. Qualified testers will be added to the County registry. More about the Backflow Prevention Program and the Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention by-law |
Water tower construction work in Norwich |
Oxford County has substantially completed the Norwich Water Tower rehabilitation at 6 Pitcher Street in Norwich. The work included structural repairs, piping repairs, complete removal of all paint coatings, re-painting of the entire tank structure, and the updated Oxford County logo. The tower was refilled on November 25 and returned to regular operation on November 28, 2023. The contractor is still undertaking some minor works, including removing the large scaffold structure surrounding the tower. In Spring 2024, the contractor will return to the site to complete the final site restorations. |
Annual wastewater system performance reports |
County Council received the 2022 Annual Wastewater Treatment Plant Summary Reports and the 2022 Annual Biosolids Summary Report at the March 8 Council meeting. Together, the reports show continued strong performance in managing wastewater generated by more than 70,000 residents and businesses in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Approximately 13.6 million cubic metres of wastewater was treated in 2022. Four of the nine County municipal wastewater treatment plants achieved 100% compliance ratings: Ingersoll, Mount Elgin, Tavistock and Thamesford. The remaining ratings encompass Drumbo 94%, Norwich 99%, Plattsville 97%, Tillsonburg 98% and Woodstock 99%. Read the 2022 wastewater system performance reports online here. |
Keep fats, oils and grease out of the drain |
Public Works safely treats residential and industrial wastewater that goes down drains and into sewers, but keeping our infrastructure running is everyone’s responsibility. At home or at work, fats, oils and grease should never go down the drain. They can impact the sanitary sewer system and, for industrial users, can lead to fines under the County’s sewer use by-law. Questions? Contact seweruse@oxfordcounty.ca.
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Estimate your water and wastewater bill |
Oxford County's online calculator lets you estimate the monthly and annual water bill for someone living in your community. Try the calculator here |
Need a locate? Call before you dig. |
Before you dig, you must contact On 1 Call for all water and sewer locates. On 1 Call offers a free, 24/7 locate service both online or by calling 1-800-400-2255. |