Newmarket residents, an additional charge is coming to your hydro bill

Not a new charge, stormwater fee will be charged through hydro bill from December to March

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 1, 2020

Don’t be surprised when you see an additional charge on your Newmarket Hydro bill over the next few months.

From December to March, residents will see the 2020 stormwater charge collected on their hydro bill.

This is not a new charge.

It was introduced in 2017 and was previously collected with property taxes.

Shifting collection to the hydro bill was made after residents said they wanted to streamline the collection process, the town said in a statement.

Collecting the charge on the hydro bill keeps all water-related charges on one bill, provides transparency on the charge, and makes paying easier for residents, it said.

For the 2020 stormwater charge, the average, single-detached residential home will pay about $13.58 per instalment, compared to about $5.80 for the average, semi-detached and townhome, and $4.35 for the average highrise condo.

Properties without a hydro account will be billed on their 2021 interim property tax bill.

The 2021 stormwater charge will be collected on the hydro bill with the July, August, September and October 2021 bills.

Stormwater is the rain and melted snow that flows from your property, onto the street and into the storm drains. Along the way, it picks up debris, chemicals and other pollutants from rooftops and paved surfaces that can upset the water quality of lakes and rivers, the town said.

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Stormwater management reduces the negative effects of stormwater and lowers the risk of flooding that can damage your property and the environment. Today, there is more stormwater than ever before due to climate change and the growing population in Newmarket, it said.

The charge will be used to fund stormwater management initiatives like low-impact development and green infrastructure to minimize the negative impacts of stormwater run-off.

“Towns and cities around the world are trying to react to the pressing need to address climate change and its effects,” Mayor John Taylor said in a statement

“With more stormwater run-off flowing into our lakes, rivers and streams, it’s important that we continue to invest in stormwater management so we can reduce the negative effects stormwater has on the environment and to lower the risk of flooding that can damage your property.”

For more information, visit newmarket.ca/stormwatercharge.