Water

Every residential and commercial property in the city that is serviced by the water distribution system will have their own individual water service supplying water to the property.

The water service is the single pipe servicing the property that comes from the common watermain that supplies water to the street.

The city owns and is responsible for all maintenance and repairs of the water service stub up to the property line as well as the curb stop which is the valve and box that is used to isolate the water supply to the dwelling. The property owner owns and is responsible for the water service beyond the property line called the water service extension or often times referred to as the “private side”.

If a water leak is determined to be on the water service extension or “private side”, the property owner will be responsible for all costs associated with correcting the issue.

For more information on water service ownership, please refer to City of Stratford Policy W.1.1. Water Service Ownership or by calling the City of Stratford Environmental Services Department at 519-271-0250 extension 5222.

Source water is the raw, untreated water that we take from lakes, rivers and underground aquifers to supply people with drinking water. “Drinking Water Source Protection” or “Source Water Protection” means protecting these sources of drinking water from contamination and overuse.

For more information, visit our Drinking Water Source Protection page.

The Resident Letter regarding Fluoride in the City's drinking water was prepared the Huron Perth Public Health Department. For any additional questions or concerns, please contact Huron Perth Public Health at 1-888-221-2133 for more information.

The Resident Letter regarding Sodium in the City’s drinking water and the accompanying Sodium Fact Sheet were prepared the Huron Perth Public Health Department. For any additional questions or concerns, please contact Huron Perth Public Health at 1-888-221-2133 for more information.

 

If a property owner is planning to have a driveway installed or replaced, we ask that they book an appointment with water services division so that the water curb box can be located before work on the driveway begins.

It is important to have these boxes located and checked for operation before driveway work is scheduled to ensure they are visible and working properly. Failure to do so may result in a new driveway being compromised if the curb box needs to be repaired or replaced at a later date.

The curb box is located in either the driveway or lawn of your property. The top of the curb box has a round cap that may be visible.

It is important to have these boxes located and checked for operation before driveway work is scheduled to ensure they are visible and working properly. Failure to do so may result in a new driveway being compromised if the curb box needs to be repaired or replaced at a later date.

Access and operation of the curb box is critical as it serves as the water shut off between the street and the property. Occasionally property owners need the water shut off, but the City is unable to do so as the valve box is bent or broken. The curb box repair or replacement will be done at the City’s expense. However, the City is only responsible for the curb box, not the driveway.

We recommend that homeowners contact the City to schedule an inspection of the curb box before driveway work is done so that repairs will not need to be made after the driveway is completed. There is no cost to the homeowner for this curb box inspection.

To book an appointment, please call the City of Stratford Water Division at (519)-271-0250 extension 5222 during regular business hours.

In the past, the City of Stratford has experienced deeper than normal frost levels. As frost reaches deeper depths, this can result in an increase in the freezing of water services.

For more information, visit our Frozen Water Services page.

Occasionally, the water coming from the taps in your home may appear yellowish or rusty coloured.

See our Frequently Asked Questions about Discoloured Water for typical causes of discoloured water, tips for clearing discoloured water, and how to contact the Water Division.

We prepare annual reports on our drinking water system to meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. These reports provide information on the operation of the municipal drinking water distribution system, the quality of the water, and the MOE inspection report.

New water and sewer rates are approved by City Council annually. Festival Hydro is contracted by the municipality to read water meters and to issue billings for water and sewer use.