Water Rates

Virtually all properties in the District have water meters. Water is measured in “units”; one unit is equal to 623 gallons or 2,832 litres. The rates approved by Municipal Council for 2023 are $3.61 per unit in addition to a basic charge of $262.80 per year ($0.72 per day).

These rates apply to all properties except those that have more than two apartments. For those with more than two apartments, the basic charge is $131.40 per year ($0.36 per day) multiplied by the number of apartments; the consumption charge remains the same.

When there is a change in ownership or occupancy and a special meter reading is requested, a charge of $30.00 will be added to the next utility bill.

Sewer Rates

The sewer charges on the utility bill are used to recover a portion of the municipal costs to run the sewer system and a portion of the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) sewer debt cost and sewer treatment plant operating cost. The CRD sewer debt costs are for debt incurred after 2006 for sewer work relating to Oak Bay. The 2023 municipal sewer user rate is $2.95 per unit of water used and the CRD sewer user rate is $5.14 per unit.

These rates are applied to 100% of the water used by properties that are not residential, have mixed use, or have two water meters. In the last case, there are no sewer charges for the water that is used through the garden meter. For all other residential properties, the charges are calculated on 60% of the water consumed.