Water Services

The Township of Chatsworth has two municipal residential drinking water systems servicing the Village of Chatsworth and Hamlet of Walters Falls. The Township is responsible for providing and maintaining a safe supply of high quality drinking water that meets all applicable regulations and legislation. The Township contracts the operation and maintenance of the municipal water systems to the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA).

OCWA Contact:
General inquiries – 519-483-3555
Emergencies related to drinking water – 519-372-6534

Fees and Charges – Water Fees (PDF)

Testing Private Drinking Water

The Township of Chatsworth would like to advise residents that the Grey Bruce Health Unit has partnered with the Township to open a Well Water Sample Drop-Off Location at the Township office.

Samples will be picked up weekly from the Township office at 9:00 a.m. each Thursday. Samples must be dropped off within 48 hours of the pick-up time. Sample bottles are available for pick up at the Township office.

Water testing is free, and part of a complimentary program offered by Public Health Ontario for residents on wells and other private drinking systems. For more information regarding private drinking water testing, please visit Grey Bruce Public Health.

The following reports are completed in accordance with Section 11 of O. Reg. 170/03, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which requires an Annual Report to be prepared not later than February 28th of each year for the preceding calendar year.

The following reports are completed in accordance with Schedule 22 of Ontario Regulation 170/03, under the Safe Drinking Water Act. It is required that a Summary Report for the previous calendar year be prepared no later than March 31st of each year.

The Municipal Drinking Water Licence Program (MDWLP) was initiated by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change requiring municipalities to obtain a license to operate their Municipal Drinking Water Systems. In order to obtain a Municipal Drinking Water Licence to operate the Chatsworth and Walters Falls Water Systems, a Drinking Water Waters Permit (DWWP), an approved Operational Plan, an Accredited Operating Authority, an approved Financial Plan (PDF) and a Permit to Take Water (PTTW) are required to be in place. The Township of Chatsworth has been issued Municipal Drinking Water Licenses for both the Chatsworth and Walters Falls Drinking Water Systems.

The Township of Chatsworth falls within the Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Region Plan that took effect in July of 2016. This plan helps to keep your water safe and clean and help you to keep chemicals, bacteria and other pollutants out of your drinking water. People undertaking certain activities, such as home heating, oil storage or septic systems, in the most vulnerable wellhead protection areas (zones around municipal wells) are required to take measures to ensure they are doing what they need to do to protect drinking water.

Residents who use a private drinking water system (not a municipal water system) can test it for bacterial contamination free of charge. Private drinking water sources (mainly wells or surface water) have the potential to be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemicals, metals and minerals. Any of these may cause illness and could be fatal. Water quality can change with the seasons and be affected by weather. Public Health Unit Grey Bruce recommends testing at least three times a year, after any work is done on your well or water system and after significant weather events such as a fast thaw or severe rain storm. People who use water from private supplies should know how to test their drinking water and what type of water source they have and how to protect it.

Water certificates are available by request at a cost of $30.00. Certificate requests can be mailed to our office or faxed to 519-794-4499.