The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake owns and operates two separate drinking water distribution systems which are the Niagara-on-the-Lake drinking water system (Niagara-on-the-Lake DWS) and the Bevan Heights drinking water system (Bevan Heights DWS). The Town maintains responsibility for water distribution only; the facilities for water treatment and storage are owned and managed by the Niagara Region. The two drinking water systems distribute treated drinking water within a service area of approximately 12,600 hectares. The service area is bounded by Lake Ontario, the Niagara River, the City of Niagara Falls and the City of St. Catharines.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Drinking Water System (Large Municipal Residential)The Niagara-on-the-Lake system receives treated water from the Niagara Region’s Decew Falls Water Treatment Plant in St. Catharines and the Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant, both of which are regionally owned and operated. The Niagara-on-the-Lake system conveys water to approximately 15,000 residents through an estimated 200 kilometres of Town-owned watermains.
The Bevan Heights Drinking Water System is much smaller than the Niagara-on-the-Lake Drinking Water System. It receives its treated water from the Niagara Region’s Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant via the City of Niagara Falls drinking water distribution system. The Bevan Heights system distributes drinking water to approximately 157 residents, and includes around two kilometres of mainly PVC watermains.
The treated drinking water within the Town’s two distribution systems is tested for E.coli, total coliforms, Heterotrophic plate count (HPC), free chlorine residual, trihalomethanes (THMs), pH and lead and Haloacetic acids (HAAs). The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s drinking water continually meets the Drinking Water Quality Standards set out by the Province of Ontario, proving that the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake provides safe drinking water of high quality. Sampling, testing and monitoring results are summarized in reports, which are required to be prepared and published annually and are available on our Water Reports page.
Drinking Water LicensingImplementation of the Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) is part of the new Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program. A Quality Management System (QMS) consists of a set of policies, procedures and objectives that direct and control an organization with respect to quality. These policies, procedures and objectives are documented in the Town’s Operational Plan. A QMS helps to identify and prioritize risks, improves communication and team work, and provides procedures to enhance consistency and reduce errors.
Operational PlanThe purpose of the Operational Plan is to document the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Drinking Water Quality Management System (policies, procedures and objectives) to help ensure that safe drinking water is supplied to all of its customers. The operational plan applies to all drinking water related operations at the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Bevan Heights drinking water systems. Copies of the Operational Plan are accessible to the public. Hard copies are available at the Town Administration Building (1593 Four Mile Creek Road) or at the Public Works Building (3 Lorraine Street) in Virgil.
Financial PlanView the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Drinking Water Policy. For more information on the Drinking Water Quality Management Standard, visit the Province of Ontario's website. For a Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program overview, visit the Province of Ontario's website. Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
The Town’s water distribution and sewage collection systems is maintained and operated in cooperation with the Region, in addition to municipal irrigation systems. For more details, please see the Irrigation page.
Note that the Region has the responsibility for the domestic water treatment (including pumps, storage facilities, and 39.5 km. of mains) and sewage treatment facilities (including pumping stations and force mains).
Niagara-on-the-Lake has received regulatory relief from Lead Testing; however, bacteriological and other chemical testing is still being conducted according to provincial legislation.
Please click the following links for important information regarding the Water Distribution Systems Rate Review and Financial Plan:
These reports are published in print and posted on the Town's website on the internet in accordance with the requirements of the Drinking Water Protection Regulation which came into effect on August 26, 2000.
Regular Hours of OperationMaintenance staff: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays
Concession 5 Road Station is open from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily and the Walker Road Station is open 24/7.
Available Documents