Wastewater Utility Billing

Your annual wastewater utility bill includes two components: a fixed charge and a usage-based charge.

1. Fixed Charge

The fixed charge helps fund the ongoing operation, maintenance and replacement of wastewater infrastructure, including the wastewater treatment plant, pump stations and underground pipes.

This charge applies regardless of how much water a property uses.

The fixed charge is based on Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs), a standardized measure used to classify different types of properties.

For example:

• A single-family home, with or without an internal suite, is classified as one EDU.
• An external suite has a separate EDU classification.
• A duplex is classified as two EDUs.
• A triplex is classified as three EDUs.
• Other property types have classifications established under the District's wastewater bylaw.

This approach ensures all users contribute to the shared costs of maintaining the wastewater system.

2. Usage-Based Charge

The usage-based charge is calculated using estimated wastewater generated by a property.

Because wastewater is not measured directly at individual properties, the District uses metered drinking water consumption information provided by the Capital Regional District (CRD) to estimate wastewater usage.

Properties with higher estimated wastewater usage generally pay more, while properties with lower estimated usage generally pay less.

The model is designed to collect approximately 67% of overall wastewater utility revenue through fixed charges and 33% through usage-based charges.

These percentages apply to total utility revenue, not necessarily to each individual property's bill.

Your winter water consumption helps determine the usage-based portion of your annual wastewater utility bill.

The District uses water consumption information collected by the CRD during the winter months, generally from November through the end of January.

This information is used to establish an average daily water consumption amount, which is then used to estimate annual wastewater generation.

Winter water consumption generally provides a more accurate picture of water used indoors for everyday activities, including:

• Bathing, showering and personal hygiene
• Toilets and other household plumbing fixtures
• Laundry and dishwashing
• Cooking and cleaning

Using winter water consumption helps reduce the influence of seasonal outdoor activities, such as watering lawns and gardens, which typically do not contribute to the wastewater system.

The District does not install separate wastewater meters at each property. Instead, existing CRD water meter information is used to estimate wastewater generation.

Important: Your wastewater usage charge is not based on all the water you consume throughout the year. It is based on estimated annual wastewater generation using the winter measurement period.

Wastewater charges are established through the District's Community Sewer System Charge Bylaw No. 952, 2026.

The rates established for the transition beginning in 2027 are:

These rates may be reviewed and amended by Council through the annual financial planning process.

Example: Single-Family Home

For a single-family home classified as one EDU, with estimated annual wastewater usage of 136 cubic metres:

This example is based on the average single-family household wastewater volume identified in the September 2026 Council report.

For comparison, the previous annual Sewer Parcel Tax for a single-family home without a suite was approximately $653 in 2026.

Individual bills may be higher or lower depending on property classification, water consumption and the charges previously applied to the property.

Small changes in how you use water can make a difference.

Because a portion of wastewater utility billing is based on estimated wastewater generation, reducing unnecessary water consumption during the winter measurement period may help lower the usage-based portion of your annual wastewater bill.

Simple water-wise habits include:

• Fix leaks promptly. Leaking faucets, toilets and plumbing fixtures can waste significant amounts of water.
• Take shorter showers. Reducing shower time can help conserve water.
• Run full loads. Use dishwashers and washing machines efficiently.
• Turn off taps. Avoid leaving water running unnecessarily while brushing teeth, washing dishes or completing other household activities.
• Monitor water consumption. Reviewing your CRD water bills may help identify unexpected changes in water use.

Water conservation also benefits the broader community by reducing demand on the regional drinking water supply, helping protect the environment and supporting long-term water security.

Explore CRD Water Conservation Resources

The Capital Regional District offers practical resources to help residents reduce water consumption at home.

Resources include indoor and outdoor water conservation tips, leak detection guidance and ways to develop water-wise habits throughout the year.

Explore CRD Water Conservation Resources

Sooke's original wastewater funding structure was established to help finance construction of the community sewer system, including repayment of an $8.8 million loan.

With the final loan repayment due in October 2026, the District reviewed how wastewater services could continue to be funded sustainably.

The former Sewer Parcel Tax and Sewer Generation Charge model was established under Bylaw No. 150 and was replaced through the adoption of Community Sewer System Charge Bylaw No. 952, 2026.

The new model is guided by three principles:

1. Financial Sustainability

Provide reliable funding for the day-to-day operation of wastewater services, ongoing maintenance, infrastructure renewal and future system needs.

2. Fairness and Equity

Better align wastewater charges with how properties use the system, reducing situations where lower-usage properties effectively subsidize higher-usage properties.

3. User Pay

Recognize that the cost of collecting and treating wastewater is influenced by the volume generated, while encouraging responsible water consumption.

The District of Sooke owns and operates its wastewater treatment plant and collection system. These essential services require ongoing investment in infrastructure, equipment, staffing and environmental protection.

The utility billing model balances the need for reliable funding with a more equitable approach to distributing service costs.

It depends on your property and how much water you use.

Some property owners will pay more under the new model, while others will pay less. However, most users were expected to see relatively modest changes when the model was introduced.

During development of the new model in 2026, District modelling indicated that approximately two-thirds of billing units would see charges within 10% of what they were previously paying.

The greatest changes were expected among properties with unusually high or low water consumption, or properties that were not previously paying all applicable wastewater charges.

For example:

• Lower water users may pay less. A single-person household with relatively low water consumption may see a reduction compared with the previous system, where they paid the same Sewer Parcel Tax as a larger household without a suite.
• Higher water users may pay more. Households or properties with greater water consumption may see higher charges because their estimated wastewater usage is greater.
• Properties with secondary suites may see changes. Depending on how the property was previously billed, including whether applicable suite-related charges were collected, the new model may result in an increase or decrease.

The goal is to establish a more equitable system where everyone contributes to the fixed costs of operating the wastewater system, while a portion of the bill reflects estimated usage.

Properties with secondary suites may experience changes in their wastewater charges, depending on the type of suite, water consumption and how the property was previously billed.

Under the previous system, properties with secondary suites were expected to pay the applicable Sewer Parcel Tax and Sewer Generation Charge.

Where a suite was not registered or its applicable charges were not previously collected, the property owner may have been paying less than required under the former system.

Under the new model, water used by occupants of a secondary suite connected to the property's water supply is generally included in the usage-based calculation.

As a result, property owners who were not previously paying all applicable wastewater charges may notice a more significant change when comparing their new utility bill with their former charges.

However, having a secondary suite does not automatically mean your wastewater bill will increase.

Under Bylaw No. 952, a single-family home with or without an internal suite is classified as one EDU for the fixed charge. An external suite has a separate EDU classification.

For properties that were previously paying the full applicable Sewer Parcel Tax and Sewer Generation Charges, the new billing model may result in a decrease.

The intent is to better reflect wastewater system use and distribute costs fairly among properties receiving the service.

Under the previous Sewer Parcel Tax model, properties of the same classification generally paid the same base amount regardless of how much wastewater they generated.

For example, a single person living alone could pay the same Sewer Parcel Tax as a household with several occupants, despite potentially using significantly less water and generating less wastewater.

The new model recognizes two types of costs:

• Shared infrastructure costs: Everyone connected to the system contributes toward operating, maintaining and replacing wastewater infrastructure.
• Usage-related costs: A portion of the charge reflects how much each property is estimated to use the system.

This approach helps reduce situations where lower-usage properties subsidize higher-usage properties.

Fairness does not necessarily mean everyone pays less. It means charges are distributed in a way that better reflects both the shared costs of providing wastewater services and individual use of the system.

No. The wastewater utility bill replaces the previous Sewer Parcel Tax and Sewer Generation Charge collected through annual property tax notices.

This is a change in how wastewater service costs are calculated and collected, not an additional charge on top of the former wastewater charges.

Individual properties may pay more or less than under the previous model.

No. Wastewater utility billing applies to properties within the Sooke Core Sewer Specified Area.

Properties outside this area generally rely on private septic systems and are not subject to these wastewater utility charges.

Learn more about Sewer and Septic Services in Sooke.

Yes. Your CRD water bill and the District's wastewater utility bill are separate.

The CRD provides drinking water and bills for metered water consumption.

The District of Sooke provides wastewater collection and treatment services and uses CRD water consumption information to estimate wastewater generation for billing purposes.

Wastewater utility bills are intended to be issued annually, generally around the same time as property tax notices.

Although issued around the same time, wastewater charges are billed separately from property taxes.

Under Community Sewer System Charge Bylaw No. 952, the annual payment deadline is July 2.

Interested in paperless billing?

The District is working to introduce electronic billing (e-billing) for wastewater utility bills. Please check back for information on how to sign up to receive your bill electronically.

Yes. Reducing water consumption during the winter measurement period may help lower the usage-based portion of your wastewater bill.

The fixed charge remains the same regardless of water consumption.

For practical ways to reduce water use, visit the CRD's Water Conservation Resources.

If you believe your wastewater charge is inaccurate because of an incorrect water meter reading, you must first contact the CRD to request a review or correction.

You may then submit an appeal to the District, including evidence that you have requested a correction from the CRD.

If your metered water consumption does not accurately reflect wastewater entering the District's system, you may also request a review.

Supporting documentation is required, and appeals must be submitted within 30 calendar days of receiving the utility bill.

Appeals are considered in accordance with Community Sewer System Charge Bylaw No. 952.

The District recognizes that not all metered water consumption necessarily enters the wastewater collection system.

Property owners who believe their usage-based charge includes water that did not enter the wastewater system may request a review.

Under Bylaw No. 952, requests must include supporting information demonstrating that the water was diverted away from the wastewater system.

Appeals must be submitted within 30 calendar days of receiving the utility bill.

The fixed charge is based on the number of Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) assigned to a property.

If you believe your property has been incorrectly classified or assigned the wrong number of EDUs, you may request a review through the District's appeal process.

Supporting documentation is required, and appeals must be submitted within 30 calendar days of receiving the utility bill.

No. Wastewater utility charges are service fees rather than property taxes and are not eligible for the provincial Property Tax Deferment Program.

Property owners participating in the program remain responsible for paying their wastewater utility charges.

Under Community Sewer System Charge Bylaw No. 952, a 10% penalty generally applies to outstanding charges after the annual payment deadline.

As a transitional measure, this penalty was waived for wastewater utility bills issued during the 2027 calendar year.

Unpaid wastewater utility balances remaining at the end of the calendar year are transferred to the property's tax account in accordance with the Community Charter.

The District's Director of Finance or designate may establish alternative payment schedules at their discretion.

Bylaw No. 952 includes provisions for prorating the fixed charge when a property is not connected to the wastewater system for the entire calendar year.

The bylaw also allows for revised billing when changes to a property, such as subdivision or changes in the number of dwelling units, affect the applicable charges.

The transition to wastewater utility billing was approved by District of Sooke Council following a review of the existing sewer funding model and consideration of alternative approaches.

The review was prompted in part by the completion of the District's original wastewater infrastructure debt repayment in 2026.

At public meetings, District Council and staff examined how wastewater services could continue to be funded sustainably, including the costs of operating the treatment plant, maintaining the collection system and planning for future infrastructure renewal.

Key milestones in the decision-making process included:

January 12, 2026 — Initial review

Council received information about transitioning to a new sanitary sewer utility rate model following the retirement of wastewater infrastructure debt.

June 15, 2026 — Committee of the Whole

Council discussed options for future wastewater funding, including approaches to fixed and usage-based charges.

July 27, 2026 — Bylaw development update

Council received an update on development of the new wastewater bylaw and the consideration of a utility fee-based model.

September 8, 2026 — Bylaw readings

Council considered the proposed Community Sewer System Charge Bylaw No. 952, including the recommended model that would collect approximately 67% of overall wastewater revenue through fixed charges and 33% through usage-based charges.

Council gave the bylaw its first three readings.

September 28, 2026 — Bylaw adoption

Council adopted Community Sewer System Charge Bylaw No. 952, establishing the wastewater utility billing model effective January 1, 2027.

During deliberations, Council considered how the changes could affect different households and property types, including properties with secondary suites and larger families.

Further, wastewater utility rates are reviewed through the District's annual financial planning process at poublic meetings, with amendments requiring Council approval. This occurs annually, typically near the start of the calendar year.