Properties in Mt. Elgin, Brownsville and other SWOX communities now subject to storm-water fee

Debbie Kasman, Tillsonburg Post Correspondent

At its regular council meeting on May 20, SWOX council passed a by-law subjecting properties with stormwater infrastructure in Mount Elgin, Brownsville, Salford, Sweaburg and Beachville to a storm-water fee to provide for storm-water management utility in future. The fee is higher for properties in Mount Elgin because there is more stormwater infrastructure to maintain and plan for in the future.

The intent of the bylaw is to establish a long-term funding strategy for storm-water maintenance, shifting from reliance on the Drainage Act to a tiered fee structure. Under the new system, all impacted property owners, those with stormwater infrastructure, will contribute their share through monthly fees, rather than being billed individually when work is needed under the Drainage Act. This approach will replace the current assessment-based billing model and help avoid large, unexpected expenses for residents, according to a staff report.

The same staff report states that public feedback on the original financial plan was not favourable, but the township is obligated to complete work under the Drainage Act and to charge assessed landowners. Leaving the system under the Drainage Act was an option, but would require costly engineering assessments and result in property owners receiving lump-sum bills when maintenance is carried out. Collecting fees over time is seen as a more sustainable and manageable approach.

All properties in Brownsville, Salford, Sweaburg and Beachville with less than 0.4 hectares are now required to pay $7 per month, while all properties in Mount Elgin less than 0.4 hectares in Mount Elgin are required to pay $11 per month. The staff report says this rate is comparable to the provincial average of $10 per month for storm-water services and financing.

Properties in Beachville, Brownsville, Salford and Sweaburg larger than 0.4 hectares are now required to pay $12.50 per hectare per month, while all properties in Mount Elgin larger than 0.4 hectares are required to pay $22.50 per hectare per month.

The fee considers the runoff generated and is adjusted up or down compared to an average runoff calculated. All properties are subject to the minimum charge set above. Properties that drain away from the storm sewer system (all or part of lands) are still subject to the minimum fee. The fee will be added to the final property tax bill each year and can be paid in two instalments with the final property tax instalments or all at once.

Wastewater treatment plant expansion

According to a 2024 Annual Wastewater Treatment Summary Report prepared by Oxford County, the Mount Elgin WWTP provided effective treatment in 2024 and was 100 per cent compliant with all its final effluent objectives. The report did

In January 26, 2024, heavy rainfall in the area resulted in high flows observed at the Mount Elgin WWTP. The wastewater operator was alerted of the high-level condition at the lift station. The operator arrived onsite to find effluent on the ground, exiting from the joints in the wet well casing.

A vacuum truck was dispatched and used to clean up the spilled liquid. The truck then removed more effluent and transported it to a neighbouring WWTP, lowering the level within the lift station wet well further, to reduce the chance of a subsequent spill. A new check valve was installed to prevent backflow of storm water into the wet well.

The overflow event was reported to the Spills Action Centre and the Ministry of the Environment at the time of the occurrence.

There were no additional overflows, bypassing, upsets, spills or abnormal conditions for 2024.

The Ministry of the Environment did not conduct an inspection of the WWTP in Mount Elgin in 2024. Ministry inspection typically occurs every three years.

The Wastewater Treatment Summary Report also states that Oxford County determined that the WWTP in Mount Elgin has adequate capacity to treat all approved development and the county is actively working on the Phase 3 and 4 expansions to be able to provide capacity for future growth in the community until 2046.

To meet the future wastewater treatment servicing needs of the Mount Elgin Community, design work continued in 2024 for the Phase 3 and 4 expansions of the WWTP in Mount Elgin to increase the rated capacity of the system. The project includes a flow equalization tank, additional sand filters and disposal beds as well as an electrical upgrade.

Further construction is planned for 2025/2026 pending ministry approval.