Water & Wastewater (Sanitary Sewage)
The County of Prince Edward’s Water and Wastewater Services Department is responsible for the administration, maintenance and operation of The County’s drinking water and wastewater systems. For more information regarding the activities undertaken by the Water and Wastewater Services Department, please select from one of the options below:
Drinking Water
The County is committed to providing safe drinking water to customers served by the municipal drinking water systems. Water treatment and distribution systems are maintained according to legislation and industry standards. Samples are regularly collected and tested for the presence of regulated chemicals and bacteria.
The County's Drinking Water Quality Policy
A Quality Management System is in place for the drinking water treatment and distribution systems under the operational authority of The Corporation of The County of Prince Edward (The County).
The County owns, maintains, and operates:
- The Picton Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System, servicing Picton and Bloomfield
- The Wellington Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System
- The Ameliasburgh Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System
- The Peat’s Point Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System
- The stand-alone distribution system that services Consecon and Carrying Place
- The stand-alone distribution system that services Rossmore and Fenwood Gardens
The County is committed to:
- Providing a consistent supply of safe drinking water to all consumers of The County’s municipal drinking water systems;
- Operating, maintaining, and managing The County’s drinking water systems in a responsible manner in accordance with applicable legislative/regulative requirements, and documented quality management procedures, and;
- The maintenance and continual improvement of the Quality Management System.
Through the implementation of the Quality Management System, The County is dedicated to accomplishing these goals through commitment, support and participation from all levels of the organizational structure, including The Owner, Upper Management and all personnel associated with the management, operation and maintenance of the drinking water systems. Each component of the organizational structure shares in the responsibility of implementing, maintaining and contributing to the continual improvement of the Drinking Water Quality Management System.
A copy of the most current Quality Policy can be found here.
Drinking Water Annual and Summary Reports:
Hydrant Flushing and Fire Flow Testing
Hydrant flushing is part of the annual maintenance program for the water distribution system. Flushing occurs in order to ensure a consistent supply of safe drinking water is available to all consumers of The County’s municipal drinking water system, to confirm that the distribution system valves and hydrants are in good working order, and to support fire protection.
Flushing removes particles and minerals that form over time inside the water mains, widening the pathway for water to flow. Watermain flushing and preventative maintenance on fire hydrants are conducted on an annual basis, or more often in some areas.
Watermain Flushing & Hydrant Maintenance
Program Schedule
Spring Program: April – June
- Wellington Drinking Water System
- Picton/Bloomfield Drinking Water System
Summer Program: July – August
- Consecon/Carrying Place Drinking Water System
- Rossmore/Fenwood Gardens Drinking Water System
Fall Program: September – October
- Wellington Drinking Water System
- Picton/Bloomfield Drinking Water System
Specific information about when flushing is happening in your neighbourhood are posted on the County News & Notices page and The County’s social media accounts.
Fire hydrant flow testing and rating is conducted to support fire protection in The County. To conduct fire hydrant flow testing, certified drinking water operators operate hydrants throughout the distribution system and record information about the hydrant flow rate and pressure. Hydrant colour coding is assigned to each hydrant based on the rating results of the fire flow testing. Fire fighters use the fire hydrant rating results to anticipate the water supply available through a hydrant when they arrive at the scene of a fire.
When hydrant flushing or fire flow testing is underway, customers in the area are asked to avoid excessive water use; for example, running tap water for extended periods, using the washing machine and dish washer simultaneously, or using municipal water for outdoor purposes such as washing vehicles or watering plants.
During times when hydrant flushing or fire hydrant flow testing are underway, deposits that normally occur in the water pipes of the distribution system can be disturbed. This is as a result of changes in the direction and speed that water is flowing through the distribution system water pipes. Customers in the immediate area where hydrant flushing or flow testing is being conducted may experience intermittent pressure fluctuations, lower than normal water pressure while hydrants are being operated, and some discolouration of tap water. This does not affect the safety or quality of your water.
If coloured water occurs at a home or business when hydrant flushing or flow testing is underway, customers should run the cold water tap closest to the water meter for a few minutes until tap water runs clear. Customers are advised to wait until the water runs clear at the tap before doing laundry or running the dishwasher. Using discoloured water in a washing machine could result in stained laundry. More information about what to expect during hydrant flushing and how to manage coloured water can be viewed or printed from Hydrant Flushing Schedule and Fact Sheet.
Locates for Underground Water & Wastewater Infrastructure
The Development Services Department performs locates for underground water and wastewater infrastructure. The County’s Damage Prevention Technician receives excavation locate requests and notifies registered owners of underground facilities within the vicinity of the planned excavation. Call before you dig for free locates! Visit on1call.com for more information.
Wastewater (Sanitary Sewage)
Two plants facilitate the treatment and collection of wastewater in Prince Edward County. Wastewater Treatment Plants are located in Wellington and Picton, servicing approximately 3,500 households.
An overview of operational information and events is compiled for the Picton and Wellington Wastewater Treatment and Collection Systems on an annual basis. For more information, view the Wastewater Services Annual Performance Reports, 2023 (R0) . For historical reports, or questions regarding County of Prince Edward Wastewater Treatment and Collection Systems, please contact us here.
The Sanitary Sewer Use By-Law 1803-2006 outlines information on the control of discharges to the municipal sewer system.
The Water and Wastewater Department does not oversee private septic systems, storm sewers, ditches or drainage basins. For more information about private septic system permits, please visit our Building Department page. Information about storm sewers, ditches and drainage basins can be obtained from The County’s Operations Department at 613.476.6505 or operations@pecounty.on.ca.
Sanitary Sewer Flushing
Sanitary sewer flushing is part of the regular maintenance program for the wastewater collection system. Flushing is conducted to ensure proper operation of the sanitary mains and pump stations, helps to prevent blockages, and removes debris that can build up in the collection system. Sanitary sewer flushing and preventative maintenance on pump stations are conducted throughout the collection system in areas known to experience higher loadings of debris on an annual basis, or more often as determined through routine monitoring. Other areas in the collection system are flushed on a rotating basis or based on operator inspection outcomes.
Sanitary sewer flushing schedule
Spring Program: April – June
- Picton Wastewater Collection System
Fall Program: September – November
- Wellington Wastewater Collection System
Specific information about when sanitary sewer flushing is happening in your neighbourhood is posted on the County News & Notices page and The County’s social media accounts.
What to expect when sanitary sewer flushing is underway
A sewer truck is utilized to flush and remove debris from sanitary sewer mains underground. One, and sometimes two trucks will work in tandem, usually one block at a time to flush the collection system. Professionals and Licensed Wastewater Operators work together to operate specialized equipment to apply high pressure water to the sanitary sewer main which scours the mains and dislodges debris and buildup. When necessary, a second vacuum truck will gather and remove debris from the sanitary sewer for disposal.
While sanitary sewer flushing does not include the cleaning of sewer laterals (the pipes that carry sanitary sewage from your home or business to the common main on the street), occasionally high pressure water can cause bubbling or splashing, particularly in basement and lower level toilets. It is recommended to keep toilet seats closed while sanitary sewer flushing is taking place in your area.
You can help to keep your community’s sanitary collection system operating efficiently and effectively. Residents are encouraged to avoid disposing of personal hygiene products, sanitary wipes, diapers, paper towels, grease/oil, food waste, pet litter/bedding, and large pieces of waste down the drains and toilet. Even products labelled as “flushable” can cause blockages in the sanitary collection system. It is recommended to only flush toilet tissue and sanitary sewage down toilets, and remove debris and hair as much as possible before draining sinks and bathtubs. Disposing of harmful or toxic chemicals or medications/medical products should not be disposed of to the sanitary collection system. Please use resources such a hazardous waste disposal depot or your local pharmacy to discard these products.
Water Restrictions
Water use can increase by 50% or more at drinking water treatment facilities during summer months as a result of increased water usage for outdoor purposes, like watering grass and washing vehicles.
Significant increases in water use can result in impacts to water supply in the resulting in:
- lower water pressures in The County’s distribution system,
- reduced available water storage,
- additional stress on facility operation,
- increased system impacts, and/or
- low water levels in surrounding water bodies and groundwater.
To limit impacts of increased water usage, The County may regulate the use of drinking water for outside purposes through the Water Conservation By-Law. Water restrictions may be implemented seasonally or not at all depending on the conditions in the water treatment facility and source water in a given year. For customers connected to the Peat’s Point Drinking Water System, water restrictions remain in place year-round. See information circulated to customers of the Peat’s Point Drinking Water System here and here.
Water & Wastewater Billing
Water and Wastewater billing is overseen by Finance Department.
For information about paying a bill, visit our Water Billing page.
Contact Us
General Inquiries
Inquiries can be made using The County’s online comment form or by calling 613.476.2148
Emergency Response
Emergency response and on-call coverage is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Emergencies can be reported at any time to the on-call operator:
- For Drinking Water and Wastewater related emergencies, call 613.967.8777.
Storm Sewer, Ditch, Drainage Basin Inquiries
The Roads Operations Department can be contacted by email at operations@pecounty.on.ca or by calling 613.476.6505
General notifications and service disruptions caused by either planned or emergency repairs or maintenance on the drinking water and wastewater treatment systems will be posted on our County News & Notices page.