At their meeting on Monday, June 22, 2020, Council approved a new application program to help Port Colborne residents that have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with the relief of penalty charges and interest for the 2020 final property tax bill payments, water, and wastewater billings.

This new program will replace the City’s current relief program that has waived all penalties and interest charges for residents until Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Penalty and interest charges will resume on July 1, 2020, for outstanding tax, water, or wastewater bills. For those residents who have lost their jobs, or 70% of their income, they can complete an application and, if approved, will receive further relief on the penalty and interest for their property tax account and water/wastewater account(s) until Friday, October 30, 2020. For residents to be considered for the new relief program applications must be submitted by Friday, July 31, 2020.

COVID-19 Property Tax, Water, and Wastewater, Penalty and Interest Relief Program Application Form

For City updates regarding COVID-19, visit www.portcolborne.ca/page/covid-19.

INFORMATION NOTICE

CHANGES TO WATER /WASTEWATER BILLING

The City of Port Colborne has a new Financial System, which will change the look of a few things as well as give you some more options with your Water/Wastewater Bills.

Now Available:

• Option of E-Billing - Web browser mail clients (Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo) may not get the submit button to work.  If it does not work save the PDF and email your document to ebilling@portcolborne.ca 
  For best results get Adobe Acrobat Reader: Free PDF Reader
  Click here --> Register for E-Billing by filling out this form

• New look to Water/Wastewater Bills

• New Account numbers, you will need to update your account number with your financial institution for internet, phone or bank payments with new account #.  Example: Old Account # 012345A New Account # 012345.00.  Note: when registering with a financial instution the decimal point needs to be removed ie. Account # 010234500

• Bill reprinting

• Rental property billings can be sent to Owner and Tenant (if required, contact Water Clerk at 905-835-2901 ext. 125 or email waterclerk@portcolborne.ca

Payment arrangements for outstanding water accounts can be made by contacting the Water Clerk (see contact information below).

The billing of water and sewer services are produced based on actual usage through water meter readings plus fixed costs. Meter readings and billings are done on a quarterly basis for three different areas within the city.

Readings and billings are normally done as per a schedule, with specific due dates.

2020 rates are as follows:

Water 1.365 per cubic meter
Sewer 1.382 per cubic meter
Water Fixed $98.76
Sewer Fixed $133.91

220 Gallons per cu/m

1000 Litres per cu/m

 Future Enhancements:

• Monthly equal payment options (Pre Authorized Payments)

 Files Available for Download:

2020 Water Billing Dates

2019 Water Billing Dates

2018 Water Billing Dates

2017 Water Billing Dates

2016 Water Billing Dates

2015 Water Billing Date and Rates

Account Changes Form

How to Read your New Water Meter

Checking for Leaky Toilets

We offer our customers the following and most convenient ways to make payment for taxes:

- Pre-authorized Payment Plan (PAPP). Pre-authorized automatic withdrawals from your bank account for taxes either monthly or on the tax due date. To download the application, click here --> Tax Pre-authorized Payment Plan Application (PDF).

- At your financial institution, either in person or at the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).

- Online or telephone banking, if previously set up with your financial institution. You can add as a payee through the online portal by searching what your bank has name it, for example "City of Port Colborne Tax, Port Colborne Taxes, Tax Port Colborne. Your tax account number is your 15 digit roll number, no dashes or spaces.

- Mail (well in advance), or drop off cheque at City Hall in our 24-hour mail slot located at the east-side of the front entrance, 66 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne, ON L3K 3C8.
Note: For our US residents unable to cross the border right now, we do accept US cheques and apply the exchange rate the day the cheque is received.

- In person, on the first floor of City Hall (except during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the closure of City Hall).

- Payment arrangements for outstanding water/wastewater accounts can be made by contacting the Water Clerk (see contact information below).

Files Available for Download:

View and Print the Water Pre-authorized Payment Plan Application

Pre-authorized Banking Information Changes Form

Charitable Rebate Form:

https://www.niagararegion.ca/government/budget-taxes/pdf/2005-Application.pdf

Contact Information:

Water Clerk
66 Charlotte Street
Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada, L3K 3C8
Tel: 905-835-2900 ext. 125

Email the Water Clerk

Due to COVID-19, all Niagara Region locations are closed for pick-up and drop-off of water samples or testing bottles. You can continue testing your private water system through private licensed labs in Ontario or by contacting the Hamilton Public Health Lab at 250 Fennell Ave. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3R5 for direct drop off. For more information, call the info-line at 905-385-5370 or 1-866-282-7376 or contact Ontario Public Health Laboratory Services.

For more information, please visit Niagara Region's website.