CloseFirst volumetric water bills arriving for Pender Harbour residents
Residents in the North and South Pender Harbour water service areas will soon receive their first-ever volumetric water bills, marking an important change in how water services are billed in the region.
Beginning in 2026, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has transitioned from a flat-rate system to a volumetric billing model. This means water charges are now based in part on how much water a property uses, as measured by water meters.
The first “real” quarterly volumetric bills will arrive this week for those who receive their bills electronically and later this month for paper bills.
What residents can expect
Under the new system, each property will receive a quarterly (every three months) bill that includes:
- A base charge of $212.50 per quarter (or $850 annually), which includes up to 46 cubic metres of water use (approximately 500 litres per day)
- A volumetric charge of $4.00 per cubic metre for any water used above the included amount
Please note that service connections larger than ¾” will be billed a higher Base Charge.
Why the change
The move to volumetric billing is designed to:
- More fairly distribute costs among users
- Encourage water conservation
- Support the long-term sustainability of local water systems
Under the previous flat-rate system, all users paid the same amount regardless of how much water they used.
Preparing for your first bill
To help residents prepare, the SCRD previously issued two mock bills last year to demonstrate how the new system works.
Wastewater Service
All residents in the Pender Harbour / Egmont Area who receive wastewater (sewer) services from the SCRD will now receive their annual flat rate bills quarterly. If residents receive water and wastewater, they will receive a quarterly bill with both services on it.
What about users in the Regional / Chapman Water System?
Residents in the Regional Water Service will receive their regular annual utility bill in early May. Volumetric billing will not begin for this service until next year.
Learn more:
More information about volumetric billing, including how to read your bill and track your water use, is available at: scrd.ca/water-billing