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Applying for Sewer Surcharge Rebate – Industrial Customers

If you are an industrial customer, you may be eligible for a sewer surcharge rebate.

The sewer surcharge rebate applies to water not discharged into the sanitary sewer system. The rebate is calculated based on the percentage of water not returned to the sanitary sewer system, and it is credited to your water bill based on the sewer portion of the water rate.

Conditions of Eligibility
According to By-Law No. 849, industrial properties wishing to apply for the sewer surcharge rebate must meet the following qualifications:

  • If your property’s total annual water consumption is ≤1500 m3, then your property’s sanitary contribution must be ≤ 80%
  • If your property’s total annual water consumption is >1500 m3 but ≤15,000 m3, then your property’s sanitary contribution must be ≤ 85%
  • If your property’s total annual water consumption is >15,000 m3 but ≤ 1,500,000 m3, then your property’s sanitary contribution must be ≤ 90%
  • If your property’s total annual water consumption is >1,500,000 m3, then your property’s sanitary contribution must be ≤ 95%

About the Rebate
Once you have determined that your property is eligible for a sewer surcharge rebate, there are two different application processes: one for first-time applicants and another for properties that have already been approved at least once.

The rebate amount will be equal to the calculated percentage, multiplied by the water consumption (m3) on each water bill, multiplied by the rebate rate as determined by City Council from time to time. 

The rebate amount is paid in the form of a credit on the Applicant’s regular water bill.

Initial Application Process
When applying for the first time, the sewer surcharge rebate is retroactive to the date the City of Toronto receives a letter of intent from the company wishing to apply for a rebate. The letter of intent must be on company letterhead and signed by the property owner, stating the property’s:

  • address
  • water account number
  • client number
  • water meter serial number

After your letter of intent is received, you then have nine months to submit:

  1. Copies of the past 12 months water bills for each of the systems/sites and/or processes from which water is being sent to processes or products away from the sanitary discharge.  The figures in these bills should be referenced in any summaries, calculations or  formulae that make up the submission.
  2. A detailed engineering report, that:
    • Identifies the total amount of water purchased from the City for the past 12 months, as determined from the City water bills (this amount should match the total of the water bills submitted).
    • Describes the processes and/or products that are responsible for water consumption.  Each of the calculations that are used to describe the processes and/or products should reference professional and accepted equations and be included in the report. 
    • Electronic production records must be provided as part of the application package or emailed to Toronto Water Sewer Surcharge Program staff.
    • While the report may be prepared in any format, it must be sufficiently detailed to allow City staff to analyse each water source and effluent discharge process. All calculations must clearly reference industry accepted equations and formulae.  Also, equations must reference the water bills that have been submitted for the past 12 month period.  Equations must also reference the production records for water that is captured by product.  Weekly or monthly meter readings will suffice, depending on what is being represented within the calculations submitted.  Where provided templates are relevant (cooling towers, boilers), they must be used as part of the calculations making up the submission.
  3. Completed  Meter Readings forms for Cooling Towers or Boilers as applicable
  4. Sanitary Sewer Flow Differential Summary (PDF) (EXCEL)

For industrial applications an independent professional engineer, as recognized by the Professional Engineers of Ontario, must stamp and certify all submissions.

Annual Application Process
After the initial submission, your company is then eligible for the sewer surcharge rebate on an annual basis. To receive the rebate every year, the following documents must be filed before February 1st  of each year:

  1. Copies of the past 12 months water bills for each of the systems/sites and/or processes from which water is being sent to processes or products away from the sanitary discharge.  The figures in these bills should be referenced in any summaries, calculations or  formulae that make up the submission.
  2. A detailed engineering report, that:
    • Identifies the total amount of water purchased from the City for the past 12 months, as determined from the City water bills (this amount should match the total of the water bills submitted).
    • Describes the processes and/or products that are responsible for water consumption.  Each of the calculations that are used to describe the processes and/or products should reference professional and accepted equations and be included in the report.
    • Electronic production records must be provided as part of the application package or emailed to Toronto Water Sewer Surcharge Program staff.
    • While the report may be prepared in any format, it must be sufficiently detailed to allow City staff to analyse each water source and effluent discharge process. All calculations must clearly reference industry accepted equations and formulae.  Also, equations must reference the water bills that have been submitted for the past 12 month period.  Equations must also reference the production records for water that is captured by product.  Weekly or monthly meter readings will suffice, depending on what is being represented within the calculations submitted.  Where provided templates are relevant (cooling towers, boilers), they must be used as part of the calculations making up the submission.
  3. Completed  Meter Readings forms for Cooling Towers or Boilers as applicable
  4. The Sanitary Sewer Flow Differential Summary form  (PDF) | (EXCEL)

For industrial applications an independent professional engineer, as recognized by the Professional Engineers of Ontario, must stamp and certify all submissions.

For more information on the sewer surcharge rebate for commercial properties, please contact:

Michael Caruso 
Tel: 416-392-7082 
Fax: 416-392-7001
Email: mcaruso@toronto.ca

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