Norfolk County residents will face a 10.2 per cent increase in water and wastewater rates starting in January 2026, bringing the average household bill to roughly $1,948 per year.
County officials cite aging infrastructure and rising capital costs as the main drivers, with a 10-year capital plan projecting $416 million in upgrades to water and wastewater systems.
The budget includes $8.5 million in 2026 capital spending, covering rehabilitation of the Port Dover water tower, sewage pumping station upgrades, and other infrastructure projects.
Officials emphasize that most of the rate increases are tied to maintaining and modernizing existing assets rather than population growth, as only about 60 per cent of county households are connected to municipal water services.
Council members acknowledge that high rates may discourage water use among residents, but argue that infrastructure investment is critical to long-term service reliability.
The county continues to advocate for additional funding from provincial and federal governments to support essential upgrades.