Blake Ellis/The Independent

Water and sewer rates for 2026 are increasing.

The Town of Petrolia has provided notice to the Township of Enniskillen that water rates will be increasing by one cent a cubic metre starting in January. Enniskillen Township’s Administrator Clerk Christine Poland recommended at the Oct. 20 meeting, council increase the water rate from $2.14 a cubic metre to $2.15. 

This coming year will be the last time Enniskillen Township will receive a one percent discount on any increases, as agreed to between the two municipalities Enniskillen had a 0.7 percent increase instead of 1.7 percent. This is determined by the consumer price index. 

Enniskillen Township’s rate has historically been set at the rate charged by the Town of Petrolia plus an additional 40 cents a cubic metre. Twenty cents is set aside to account for water loss and 20 cents for future capital expenditures. This model was modified in 2025 to add another five cents to 45 cents a cubic metre to account for increased costs to operate the system and capital expenditures. 

These water rates apply to all Enniskillen customers, as well as sale of water to the Village of Oil Springs and the Township of Dawn-Euphemia.

“We haven’t increased the administration fee in quite some time,” said Poland. That will increase 50 cents a billing period from $55.50 to $56. 

Residents of Oil City will also see its sewer rates increase from $40 to $43 a month. Poland said this move will pull in an additional $3,744 a year. She expects the costs of the Oil City sewer system to increase, especially as the township moves to conducting lagoon discharges twice a year as well as the implementations of the Environmental Compliance Approval recommendations.