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Water Services

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1. Where does the water used by Canton residents and businesses come from?

Canton Township purchases its water from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). The GLWA operates the largest water system in the State of Michigan and supplies water to roughly four million people. The primary water sources are Lake Huron and the Detroit River.

2. What are the current water rates?

Please visit the Water and Sewer Rates Billing page for the current rates for water/sewer usage. 

3. What to do in the event of an emergency?

In an effort to protect the health and safety of the public, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has devised three public water warning notices in the event of an emergency. Boil Water Notice - If this warning is issued, residents must bring all water to a boil for at least three minutes then let it cool before using. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food until further notice. Do Not Drink Notice - If this warning is issued, residents should not use the water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, or preparing food until further notice. Do Not Use Water Notice - This is the most severe warning issued. If issued, residents should not use the water for any reason. Bottled water should be used for all needs until further notice and resident should not, under any circumstance, run their water. That includes filling up bathtubs, flushing toilets or watering lawns. Canton will only issue these warnings in the event of an emergency. If you are notified of a water emergency but you still lose water pressure or service, simply run your tap until the water becomes clear once the pressure has been restored. By understanding the difference between these three warning you can better protect yourself and your family. For questions regarding the public water warning notices please call Canton’s Public Works Division at 734/397-1011 or the MDEQ at 800/292-4706.

4. How do the water rates charged by the GLWA affect Canton?

The water rates set by GLWA are based on an annual forecast determined by historical data for water usage and estimated costs for water production and delivery services. GLWA uses the forecast to set a rate for each of its customers. By law, GLWA can only recover the cost of service, it cannot make a profit. If more water is sold than forecasted, the extra funds received must be used for the system and offset the need to increase wholesale water rates in the future.

The water rate formula that GLWA uses has 3 primary components:

1. Usage or demand by each community
2. The distance from water treatment plants
3. The elevation of the community relative to the treatment plants.

These factors vary greatly in a service area as large as GLWA’s. All customers’ wholesale rates (i.e., the rate Canton pays to GLWA to buy water) are set by this formula.

In addition to the cost to purchase water from GLWA, Canton has costs to operate, maintain and replace the 380 miles of local water distribution system piping. Canton also has fixed costs to cover such as administration, water billing staff, meter reading and meter replacements.

The annual revenue requirements of the water system must be sufficient to cover both our costs and GLWA costs. The annual water rate increase needs to be passed through to the end customer, the Canton Township water and sewer user, in order that the water funds remain financially stable year-to-year.

5. What factors help to determine whether GLWA will raise water rates or maintain the current level?

The revenue generating capacity of GLWA is somewhat dependent upon the weather. Hot, dry weather generally results in more water sales to the suburban wholesale customers that produce extra revenue to be used by GLWA in a future year. Cool, damp weather can have the opposite effect, generally resulting in an annual revenue shortfall. In addition, there are costs involved in operating and maintaining existing system facilities and capital improvement programs necessary to meet existing and future customer demands.

6. Who in the township approves the rate increases?

The rates are approved annually by the Township Board with an ordinance amendment, based on staff recommendations.

7. What are the current water and sewer rates for Canton?

In addition to the fixed charges on the customer’s bill, the current rates for water / sewer usage can be found online.

Residences with footing drains tied to the sanitary sewer system pay a slightly higher fixed charge to offset the increased usage of the sanitary sewer system during rain events.

8. How does the township determine my water and sewer usage?

A residential water meter is read every other month (bi-monthly).  This reading is obtained from outside the home by one of 2 methods:  touchpad or radio read unit. The touchpad and radio read devices are able to electronically transmit a meter reading outside the building identical to that of the inside water meter. 

The typical useful life cycle of a water meter is 10 to 15 years. After this time, the meter may develop problems providing accurate readings.  System audits are performed to monitor possible equipment failures.

Canton has an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Program, which allow us to read all water meters in the community via radio frequency which is more accurate and more efficient.

9. My water meter is outside, why does the DPW serviceman need to come inside my home?

The outside meter you are referring to is probably your gas meter, electric meter or remote water meter reading device unit. Water meters must be housed in an enclosed area, where heat is available throughout the winter months; otherwise, the meter can be damaged by frost. It is most common to find water meters in a basement; however, it might be in a crawlspace, cellar, storage room or 1st floor closet (if the home has been built on a slab). Wherever the meter is located, it must be accessible to our Division of Public Works (DPW) servicemen if our equipment needs repair or inspection.

10. Why is my bill so high?

Often when Canton residents receive their bills, they wonder why it is so high. Residents are billed bi-monthly for water and sewer usage. One thing to keep in mind is that the bill reflects usage for the previous 2 months. In other words, a bill received in the fall may have summer usage on it. By this time we find that many residents forget how frequently they may have watered over the summer, and are shocked at their bill.  Reading dates are reflected on water bills.

Irrigation systems are the biggest source of high water bills. An average sprinkler head can use 2 gallons per minute. If your system has 20 heads, and runs for 20 minutes each day, the result would be 24,000 gallons in a month or 48,000 gallons in a bi-monthly bill. One thing that you can do to monitor your watering is to take a reading at the start of a water cycle and again at the end. By performing this check, you will know exactly how much water is being used by your system. Based on this information, you can adjust your watering accordingly.

For information on ways you can conserve water and reduce your costs, please contact one of our Engineering staff in the DPW at 734/394-5150.

11. Why am I being charged fixed charges on my water and sewer bill?

Following an extensive water and sewer rate study in 2004, it was determined that fixed charges were necessary to recover fixed costs that do not vary with the amount of water consumed or sewer usage. This includes the cost for system operation and maintenance, certain customer distribution related expenses, meter reading, billing and collections. The new true cost-of-service rate structure separates usage costs from these fixed costs.

12. What are the fixed water charges on my bill?

The fixed charges vary based on the size of water meter in your home or business. For most residential customers, the fixed charge (based on a 1-inch meter or less) is $8.24 per bi-monthly billing.

13. What are the fixed sewer charges on my bill?

The fixed charges vary based on the size of water meter in your home or business. The fixed charge for residential customers (based on a one-inch meter or less) is $6.04 per bi-monthly billing, if you have a separate sump pump system. For customers who do not have a separate sump pump system, a fixed charge of $14.90 will be assessed bi-monthly. This additional charge reflects the rainwater that enters the sanitary sewer system from the footing drain system that requires treatment at the wastewater treatment plants. If you are unsure whether you have a separate sump pump system or not, please contact the Water Billing staff in the Treasurer’s Office at 734/394-5240 and schedule an appointment to have an inspection by the DPW staff.

14. What is the minimum bill for Canton Township?

Under the new 2008 Water Billing System, all minimum bills and sewer caps have been eliminated. Customers are now billed strictly on usage.

15. How often will I receive my water bill?

Water and sewer bills are mailed bi-monthly. You will receive 6 per year for all Residential,  Businesses, apartments and condominium complexes.

16. What are my options for payment?

Canton Township offers many options for paying your water and sewer bill. Payments can be made by cash, check,  Mastercard, Visa and or Discover (additional fees apply) at the Treasurer’s Office located on the 1st floor of the Administration Building at 1150 S Canton Center Road. Office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. For your convenience, a 24-hour drop-box is located at the southeast corner of the Administration Building. Payments can also be mailed for processing. Electronic payments can be made through your checking or savings account, credit card or debit card at the Canton Township website.  Canton also offers "Interactive Voice Response (IVR)" by phoning in at 1-833-679-1711.

17. Is there a fee for online or IVR payment?

There is no fee for an online payment if the money is taken directly out of your checking or savings account. However, a fee of $3.95 will be added to any payment made on a debit or credit card. Please note, the $3.95 fee passed onto residents by the bank and not Canton Township.

18. Can I make partial or extra payments on my water and sewer account?

You can make additional payments or partial payments on your account using any of the options described above. Be sure to include your account number to ensure correct posting of your payment.

19. What is the penalty for late payment?

5% penalty is charged on the current water and sewer charges after the specified due date. Postmarks will not be honored.

20. What do I do if I am selling my home and need a final meter reading?

If you are planning to move, a final water reading should be performed on your residence. Please schedule a final reading, at least 48 hours in advance, by contacting the Water Billing staff at 734/394-5240.

21. Can I have a separate meter for my outdoor irrigation system?

No, the township ordinance does not allow a second meter for outdoor water use. Sewer charges are based on 100% of the water consumption, and this is how Canton Township is charged for sewage treatment in the GLWA system.

If a community chooses to remove the sewage charge component from an irrigation (outside water) meter, the cost must be made up by increasing the rate charged for domestic (internal) water use.  This would result in increasing the cost to modest users while decreasing the unit cost to users that use more (irrigation) water.  Theoretically, if every customer had dual meters and all the irrigation meters were not charged the sewage component, then the cost of water for every user would increase.

22. I think I have a leak in my water system, how do I know?

A leak can occur in several different places in your home or business. The following tips will help you determine where the leak could be.

Water meter

• Make sure no water is being used indoors or outdoors. Turn off all faucets, shower, washer, irrigation system, etc.
  
• Check to see if the small water meter dial is moving by watching the meter for three to four minutes. If it does not move, chances are you have no leaks.
  
• Check for slow leaks by reading the meter at night and again in the morning during a period when you have not used any water overnight. If the meter shows usage, you have a leak. If you have a water softener, check on a night when you are not recharging the system.

Toilet

• Look at the toilet bowl after the tank has stopped filling. If water is running into the bowl, or if you can hear it running, your toilet is leaking. Most toilet leaks happen at the overflow pipe or the plunger ball/flapper valve inside the tank.
  
• Overflow Pipe - Take off the tank lid and flush. The water level should be ½ inch or so below the pipe. If it flows over the edge and down the pipe, you are losing water and need to adjust your float level accordingly.
  
• Plunger Ball or Flapper Valve - Your toilet could have a silent leak. To check, drop a little food coloring in the tank. Do not flush and wait for about 10 minutes. If the food coloring appears in the bowl, you have a silent leak, and can probably be repaired with parts from you local hardware store.
  
• If your toilet is leaking and you cannot get it repaired right away, shut it off at the valve behind the toilet when you are not using it.

Outdoors & Elsewhere

• Check all faucets, shower heads and outside spigots for drips. A slow drip loses 15-20 gallons per day. During winter months, it is recommended that the water supply to outdoor spigots be turned off at the inside valve to prevent frost damage to the pipes.
  
• Check for standing water on your basement floor, especially around the water heater, washer, water softener or water meter.

23. How much water can be lost from a leak?

The following list illustrates how much water is wasted from a continuous leak over a 2 month period.

• 1/4 inch leak - 787,666 gallons per bi-monthly at 60 PSI pressure
• 3/16 inch leak - 444,000 gallons per bi-monthly at 60 PSI pressure
• 1/8 inch leak - 197,333 gallons per bi-monthly at 60 PSI pressure
• 1/16 inch leak - 49,335 gallons per bi-monthly at 60 PSI pressure

A toilet running continuously amounts to the following amount of wasted water:

• 210 gallons per hour
• 5,040 gallons per day
• 35,280 gallons per week
• 141,120 gallons per month
• 282,240 bi-monthly

24. How can I conserve water and reduce my water bill?

These facts about water usage will help illustrate how much water you’re actually using and where. We’re also offering some suggestions on how to limit your usage.

Indoor Uses:

• Showers
  
  
  
  • Take shorter showers!
    
  • Showers make up 23% of home water use.
    
  • A 10-minute shower uses 50-100 gallons of water.
    
  • A standard shower head uses 5-10 gallons of water per minute.
    
  • A 5-minute shower daily uses nearly 10,000 gallons per year.
    
  • Low-flow shower heads reduce water use by 50%.


• Baths
  
  
  
  • Don’t fill the tub full!
    
  • A full bath tub uses much more water than a shower.


• Toilets
  
  
  
  • Replace older toilets with new more efficient models!
    
  • Toilets use 5-7 gallons of water with each flush.
    
  • The average toilet is flushed 8 times each day - that takes 390 gallons per week, or 20,280 gallons each year.
    
  • Displacing water in the tank can save 1-2 gallons per flush or up to 5,800 gallons per year. Use a displacement bag or plastic bottle.


• Faucets
  
  
  
  • Turn off the water while brushing teeth, shaving and washing your hands!
    
  • Normal faucets flow at 3-5 gallons per minute.
    
  • Most people use 2-3 gallons of water to brush their teeth.
    
  • A low-flow faucet aerator reduces flow by 50%.
    
  • Low-flow faucets can save up to 280 gallons per month for a family of 4.

Outdoor Uses:

• Lawns
  
  
  
  • Manage your outdoor water use!
    
  • Comply with Canton’s voluntary water use restrictions.
    
  • In some states, 50% of the water is used on lawns and gardens.
    
  • Most people water too much, lawns only need about 1 inch per week. To measure, catch sprinkler water in an open can and determine how long it takes for 1 inch to accumulate and then water for that amount of total time.
    
  • Keep your grass 3 inches in length - the roots will grow stronger and deeper.
    Use short frequent sprinkler cycles to give the lawn time to absorb the water (typically 5-15 minutes long per cycle).


• Gardens
  
  
  
  • Add mulch to landscaped beds and trees!
    
  • Mulch conserves water by retaining moisture and eliminating weeds.