Two water treatment plants service the water needs of residents of the Town of Essex, with both plants operated under contract by the Ontario Clean Water Agency. Water services to residents of the Town of Essex fall under the governance of the Town's Municipal Council

Essex Region Source Drinking Water Protection

Most residents of Wards 1 and 2, including the former Town of Essex and the Township of Colchester North, receive their water supply from the Union Water Treatment Plant. Residents in the southern part of the municipality, which encompasses the former Town of Harrow and the former Township of Colchester South, receive their water supply from the Harrow/Colchester South Water Treatment Plant.

Key statistics related to your water supply...

• The Town's water distribution system spans 290 kms of water mains
• Approximately 7,100 residential and commercial customers are served by the Town's water supply
• residential and commercial users in the Town of Essex consumed nearly 1.92 million cubic meters of water in 2003
• 700 fire hydrants are located within the municipal boundaries

The Essex Water Department

Andy Graf, Water Superintendent leads the provincially-licensed Water Department in providing a variety of services to consumers within the municipal boundaries. Services of the water department include:

• operation, repair and maintenance of the Town's water distribution system, including emergency repairs
• repairs to and replacement of all water meters
• flushing in excess of 700 fire hydrants and dead end water mains within the system
• resolution of customer complaints regarding water billings

Water Billings

ELK Energy is contracted by the Town of Essex to read water meters and to issue billings for water consumption, sanitary sewer charges and the turning on or off of water services. For some residents of the Town of Essex, the billings received by ELK Energy also include charges for hydro-electric services.

Questions related to water billings should be directed to ELK Energy by calling 519.776.5291 or by using their toll free number, 877.355.7798.

Water Rates
Water Rates for all Wards effective January 1 2010.

The Sanitary Sewer Surcharge, which is based on a percentage of total water charges, will also increase for certain Wards effective January 1, 2010.

Water Supply System - Disinfection of Drinking Water Using Chloramination
In February, 2004 the Union Water Supply System, from which most of Wards 1 and 2 receive their water supply, changed its disinfection process from chlorination or the adding of chlorine, to chloramination, the process of adding chlorine and ammonia. The change in disinfection technique was implemented to counteract the adverse sampling results and boil water advisories which had occurred in past years.

Chloramines kill bacteria by bonding with and oxidizing the organic compounds of which bacteria are made. Additionally, they last longer then chlorine which is an important factor in a water distribution system that is as large as the Union Water System.

FAQ - Is chloraminated water safe?

The answer is yes, for most normal uses of municipal water, including drinking, bathing, cooking, laundry and watering plants. Exceptions regarding the safety of chloraminated water must be noted for Kidney Dialysis Patients and Aquarium and Process Equipment Owners. Please refer to the brochure entitled "Water Treatment and Disinfection Using Chloramination" for further details concerning these exceptions and answers to other frequently asked questions.

Boil Water Advisories
For detailed information concerning any Boil Water Advisories currently in effect within the Town of Essex or for further information on what a "Boil Water Advisory" means, please Click Here.

Ministry of Environment Annual Reports - Drinking Water Systems
Click here to redirect to the reports link