Frequently Asked Questions
Properties not connected to City water or sewer infrastructure are not charged for these services; such properties include those using only well water or on septic fields.
Billing history and water consumption information is available online through MyCity Online.
Bills are mailed at the end of the month following a billing period.
Bi-monthly billing periods for customers outside the Clearbrook Waterworks District are:
- January/February
- March/April
- May/June
- July/August
- September/October
- November/December
Quarterly sewer billing periods for Clearbrook Waterworks District customers are:
- January/February/March
- April/May/June
- July/August/September
- October/November/December
Your bi-monthly utility bill includes charges for your previous two months of water and sewer services. Sewer charges are based on 90% of metered water volume or 100% of metered sewer volume. Water and sewer services are billed based on water consumption measured at the end of each billing period by the AMI water meters.
By providing six (6) bills each year customers can monitor their water consumption and look for ways to conserve.
Your quarterly utility bill includes charges for sewer only, as customers in this area are billed for water services by the Clearbrook Waterworks District. Sewer charges are based on 90% of metered water volume or 100% of metered sewer volume. Where no meters are connected a flat fee applies.
If you would like to know if your property is located in the Clearbrook Waterworks District, please email or call the water line at 604-864-5511. The information is also available on the City's webmap site. Search your address, and then select Engineering Layers and the Water Utilities option, the Clearbrook Waterworks District is shaded in blue.
Your utility bill is based on two factors that are subject to change: (1) consumption and (2) user rates.
The most common reason customers see an increase over their last bill is that the amount of water used has increased for activities such:
- Watering lawns and gardens
- Power washing, car washing
- Filling swimming pool
- Guests in the home using showers and laundry
- Water leaks
More information about water leaks in available on the Water Programs page.
- To qualify for Industrial utility rates, properties must be at least partially zoned industrial.
- To qualify for Agricultural utility rates, properties must have Class 9 Farm Status as determined by BC Assessment for the same year as the utility billing period.
- For more information on utility rate classes, please visit the Water & Sewer Rates webpage.
Unpaid utility charges which are due and payable are transferred to taxes in arrears on December 31 to the related property tax account as required by Community Charter, Section 258. Interest charges apply to arrears tax balances at a rate prescribed quarterly by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
How do I make a payment for utilities transferred to my tax property account?
Once utilities are transferred to a tax account then online payments must be made to the 10 digit folio number found on the Statement of Outstanding Taxes or Property Tax Notice rather than to the 6 digit utility account number.
If you are paying online you will need to select the payee that includes the words “Abbotsford taxes” and not the word “utilities” since you are now making a payment to your arrears tax account. To find the correct payee from your financial institution’s website, enter “Abbotsford” and select from the options available.
In order to keep customers informed of changes, there will sometimes be inserts included with your utility bill.
- 2019-05-24 - Credit Cards Accepted for Online Payments
- 2019-05-24 - Let's Talk Abbotsford - Community Engagement
- 2019-05-24 - Summer Water Conservation & Irrigation
- 2019-07-22 - 2019 Water Conservation Tips
- 2019-07-22 - Summer Solid Waste & Recycling Tips
- 2019-09-27 - Co-Existing with Wildlife & Waste Reduction Week
- 2020-03-29 - Chafer Beetle and Lawn Care
- 2020-03-29 - Fraud Alert from Abbotsford Police Dept
- 2020-05-25 - Our Water Matters, Water Conservation
- 2020-05-25 - Online Reporting, Abbotsford Police Dept
- 2020-07-21 - Curbside Collection, Program Changes
- 2020-09-29 - Water Efficiency Program & Native Plant Sale
- 2020-09-29 - Waste Wizard & Waste Reminders
Selling or Moving
Utility account numbers are specific to each property and will be different when you move to a new property.
Whether you are an owner or a tenant, be sure to update your online banking information for your new property.
You will need to take some steps to ensure your billing and payments transition to your new property which will have a different utility account number:
- Do not call to cancel your utility services – water and sewer services are not turned off
- Do not call to change ownership information as it will be forwarded by BC Land Titles
- Change your utility account number on your financial institution's website if you pay online
- Change or Cancel your Utility Auto Debit Plan
- Lawyer or Notary may Request a Final Bill for utility charges
- Return any utility bill that is no longer your responsibility to the City
- Change your property tax account information
You will need to take some steps to ensure your billing and payments transition to your new property which will have a different utility account number.
- Do not to call to cancel your utility services – water and sewer services are not turned off
- Landlord may Request a Final Bill for your move out date
- Change your utility account number on your financial institution's website if you pay online
- Change or Cancel your Utility Auto Debit Plan
Water and sewer services are the responsibility of the landlord and utility account numbers stay with the property. Utility bills are only sent to the registered owners of the property. If your tenancy agreement requires you to pay the utilities, please ask your landlord to forward you a copy of the utility bill for payment.