A watermain or sanitary sewer extension is required when a property requires servicing but the main does not extend across the property frontage or when the existing main is not adequate to provide the pressure or flow rate required.
Local Improvement Petition-Based Process
Residents may request consideration for a watermain or sanitary sewer extension by requesting a Local Improvement project. Local improvement projects follow a petition-based process in accordance with the Ontario Municipal Act, 2001 and its regulations (including O.Reg 586/06). If approved, the total project costs including administration, engineering design, and construction costs are shared by all property owners who benefit from the project.
Residents can submit a written request to the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (CK PUC) for consideration of the extension. If CK PUC determines it qualifies as a Local Improvement, CK PUC will provide a Survey of Interest form to the Lead Petitioner for circulation to the residents in the project area to sign. CK PUC requires at least two-thirds of the benefitting property owners to sign the Survey of Interest form before it will be considered. Then, CK PUC will complete a preliminary design review and determine project feasibility. If a project is determined not to be feasible, the property owners will be notified in writing.
If the project is feasible, CK PUC will send a Property Owner Package to all affected property owners by mail. The package will include the project details and an estimate of the property owner cost sharing amounts. The Lead Petitioner will be provided a Petition Form for circulation to the benefitting property owners within the petitioned area to sign. A sufficiently signed petition must be returned to the CK Clerk by the Lead Petitioner within 6 months and requires two-thirds (66.7%) of the property owners to sign representing one half (50%) of the value of the lots in accordance with O.Reg 586/06.
If the Petition is determined to be sufficient, it will be presented to Commission for review and CK Council for approval of the project and Preliminary Assessment Bylaw.
Actual costs are subject to change based upon detailed design, tendering and construction. Upon project completion, the actual project costs will be totaled, and the final property assessments will be determined. Property owners will be given notice of the final charge to be imposed and the payment options.
For more information, please refer to the CK PUC LI Petition Policy Information document and the CK PUC Waterline and Sanitary Sewer Assessment Policy for Un-serviced Areas.
If you require more information or would like to inquire about starting a Petition, you can call 519-360-1998 or email ckpuc@chatham-kent.ca.
