Supporting Vaughan’s stormwater system
Annual charge will appear on bills between May and July
With nearly 350,000 residents in Vaughan, our stormwater infrastructure must be kept in top shape to continue servicing our growing community. Residents will see the City of Vaughan’s annual stormwater charge on one of their Alectra Utilities bills between May and July, depending on their billing cycle.
The stormwater charge is not a new fee – it has appeared on utility bills since June 2017. Before this time, stormwater services were funded through property taxes and the wastewater fee. The charge is billed once annually and covers the entire calendar year. The average 2026 stormwater rate increase is 9.5 per cent. The annual increase for a detached home is $3.05
The annual stormwater charge has helped fund numerous City programs and initiatives, including:
cleaning and clearing of the City’s catch basins.
routine camera inspections of the City’s stormwater pipes.
inspections of the City’s more than 160 stormwater management ponds and clean-out of select ponds.
prevention of erosion and degradation of more than 150 kilometres of the natural creek system.
proactive improvement and preventative repair of stormwater infrastructure.
What is stormwater?
Stormwater is rainwater and melted snow that runs off lawns, streets and other surfaces. In urban areas, hard surfaces like roads, driveways and roofs prevent water from soaking into the ground, which can lead to flooding and erosion. Vaughan’s stormwater system helps manage this runoff and protect local rivers and streams. While not all properties in Vaughan immediately contribute to stormwater runoff entering the City’s infrastructure, the runoff from both urban and rural properties will eventually reach the City’s stormwater infrastructure or impact rivers and streams over time.
That’s why the City maintains this vital infrastructure year-round to help reduce flooding and protect the environment.
You can play a role in reducing stormwater pollution!
There are a few easy actions you can take to help our stormwater system stay clean and clear:
Put waste where it belongs and report litter or dumping.
Never pour pool chemicals, paint, fats, oils, grease, food scraps or medication down drains or catch basins. Only rain can go down the storm drain!
Try to wash your vehicle at a commercial car wash facility as they have traps and filters to prevent oils and dirt from reaching the City’s stormwater infrastructure.
Dispose of toxic or hazardous products (such as motor oil, paints, solvents and others) at a York Region Waste Depot. The Vaughan location is at 130 McCleary Crt.
For more information on the City’s stormwater services, visit vaughan.ca/stormwater.
For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
