The Town has two separate Drinking Water Distribution Systems (Cardinal Woods and Island Lake). Each system is operated and owned by an accredited operating authority (Town of Orangeville) and is inspected annually by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Each system has a diesel generator backup supply in the event of a power failure.
1. Cardinal Woods Drinking Water System
At the end of 2024, the Cardinal Woods Drinking Water System has 452 service connections, 12.3km of watermain, 91 fire hydrants and serves an estimated population of 1310 people.
The drinking water is delivered from a pumphouse and four ground level reservoirs located at 8 Hawthorne Road.
The water is drawn from three deep aquifer wells: MW1, 3, and 4. The raw water is disinfected with sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) and ultraviolet light to ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards Regulation O. Reg. 169/03.
2. Island Lake Drinking Water System
At the end of 2024, the Island Lake Drinking Water System has 614 service connections, 17.9km of watermain, 147 fire hydrants and serves an estimated population of 1950 people. The drinking water is delivered from two pumphouses and one composite elevated tower (CET).
The first pumphouse is located at 713178 1st Line EHS, which includes three deep aquifer wells: well 1, 2, and 3 in which raw water is disinfected by using sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) with iron sequestration removal being achieved by utilizing sodium silicate.
The second pumphouse and water tower is located at 3 French Drive. This raw water is drawn from two (2) deep aquifer wells: PW-1 and PW-2 and is disinfected with sodium hypochlorite (chlorine).
Both treatments in this system ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards Regulation O. Reg. 169/03.
Water Department Complaints Overview
The Town of Mono Water Department, Public Works, is here to answer any questions/concerns related to your drinking water and billing during normal business hours and is also equipped with 24/7/365 service for quality issues. This information is found on our website. Our department is well educated to answer all your concerns should our services be required.
Discoloured Water
The Town of Mono Drinking Water systems are less than forty years old and are entirely constructed of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) with small diameter copper laterals for customers. This means the existence of brown or yellowish water is not being caused by the aging of cast-iron piping that would be normal to older infrastructure in older cities and towns across Canada. However, raw water from deep well aquifers do contain naturally occurring minerals which do need to be flushed from the systems from time to time with hydrant flushing. A complete list of your raw and treated water minerals can be found in the Annual Reports herein, as well as at Town Hall. Reports are prepared annually, in March, for the MECP, as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, O. Reg. 170/03 for Drinking Water System requirements.
The Ministry of Environment requires the preparation of financial plans for water systems (and municipalities are encouraged to prepare plans for wastewater systems). The Ministry of Environment also provides a Financial Plan Guideline to assist municipalities with preparing the plans.
Water meters are read each month, with bills being distributed, via regular mail, thereafter. Water bills can be sent via email. To register for paperless billing, email your account number, name, and email address to cathy.crawford@townofmono.com. Water rates are calculated on a sliding scale which increases with higher consumption as we encourage users to conserve water.
Property owners may authorize a third party—such as a tenant or property manager—to manage the water account. While bills and payment notices can be directed to the assigned account holder, any unpaid charges remain the responsibility of the property owner and may be added to the property's tax bill as noted above.
Water Shut-Off/On Fees:
For water shut-off or turn-on requests, the current fees are listed below. To schedule a service, please contact the Water Department at 519-941-3599 ext. 251 or email waterinquiries@townofmono.com
$120 during regular business hours
$240 for evenings, weekends, and holidays
Water Meters:
The water meter is typically located where the water service line enters your home or building. To allow for maintenance or replacement, it’s important to ensure the meter always remains easily accessible.
How Water Meters Work:
A water meter is a device that tracks the amount of water used in your home. It is typically located on the lowest level of the home or building, where the water service line enters the property, near the main shut-off valve.
The meter works by mechanically measuring how much water you use, which records water usage in cubic metres (1 m³ = 1,000 litres). This data is used to calculate your water bill.
In the Town of Mono, residential water meters are equipped with a remote antenna system. Meter readings are collected automatically using a drive-by radio signal, eliminating the need for physical access to the meter and ensuring efficient, accurate billing.
How to Read Your Water Meter
Stay tuned!
Hydrant Flushing and Valve Turning:
The water systems are constantly monitored and maintained, which includes periodic flushing of the fire hydrants. When this is done, water may be discoloured for a short period of time but should be clean within 15 minutes. Residents are notified when flushing is planned, via website and social media channels.
In addition to hydrant flushing, the town regularly performs valve turning to ensure the water system operates smoothly. Property owners are reminded that town property extends 10 metres (33ft) from the centre of the road, and no water sprinklers, landscaping features, or other obstructions should be placed within this area. This space is necessary for access by maintenance trucks when performing valve turning, ensuring that our systems remain in good working order for everyone’s safety and convenience.
Water Inquiries
For any inquiries about our Drinking Water Systems—including external water supply issues (i.e., in your front yard), or questions about your water meter or water quality—please contact the Water Department using the information below.
Please leave a message including time, date and nature of the emergency and an operations employee will contact you.
Quality Management System, Operational Plan
The Town of Mono has an Operational Plan (Plan) for the Town’s water supply and distribution system. This Plan was developed by the Town’s Operating Authority (Town of Orangeville) as part of our continuous efforts to ensure clean, safe and reliable drinking water is supplied to all customers served by the Town of Mono’s two drinking water systems. The Plan meets the Ministry of the Environment Drinking Water Quality Management Standards (DWQMS).
The development, implementation and continual improvement of the Plan helps ensure that all regulatory requirements are met, so consumers can remain confident that their drinking water is safe.
The Quality Management System, Operational Plan is available for viewing at the Town Hall.
Drinking Water Quality Management System or DWQMS Policy
The following is the Quality Management System Policy for the Town of Mono Drinking Water Systems.
The Town of Mono commits to:
The provision of safe drinking water to the customers that are served by the water works systems it owns and operates;
Using an accredited operating authority to operate and maintain its drinking water systems;
Maintain and continually improve the Quality Management System for the operation of its water works systems; and
Complying with the applicable legislation and regulations.
Check for leaks in your toilets at least once a year. Add 10-15 drops of food colouring to the toilet tank, leave for 15 minutes and then check. If you see any colour in the bowl, there is a leak which needs to be fixed. Approximately 20% of toilets leak.
Fix leaky faucets right away as these can account for as much at 5% of all indoor water use.
Saving Water Indoors: Retrofitting Water Efficient Fixtures
Replace older toilets with high-efficiency, low-flow or dual flush toilets, which use as little as 5 litres per flush as opposed to 15 litres for traditional toilets.
Install high-efficiency, low-flow aerators on all faucets. These restrict the flow and can cut consumption by 6%.
Install high-efficiency, low-flow showerheads. Prices range from $15 and up and they take less than 10 minutes to install.
Ensure that hot water pipes are insulated
Buy a “Retrofit Kit” from a hardware or plumbing store. A typical kit may contain two low-flow showerheads, two toilet tank displacement devices and two toilet tank leak detection dye tablets, as well as literature on efficient water-use practices.
Use of Water
Decreasing indoor hot water use will save you in energy costs as water heaters account for about 15% of a home’s total energy requirements.
Turn off the water when brushing your teeth, shaving or washing.
Clean fruits and vegetables in a pan instead of running the faucet.
Plan ahead - thaw food in the refrigerator instead of under running water.
Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when full. Front loading washing machines cost more but they use 1/3 less water per load. Washing machines with the “Suds Saver” option are suggested.
Saving Water Outdoors
Water your lawn only when needed, or not at all. Walk on your grass to find out if it needs watering; if you leave footprints, it may be time to water. If not, the lawn probably does not require it.
Water in several short sessions: three 10-minute sessions an half-hour apart. This encourages deeper, healthier root systems.
Adjust your lawnmower to a higher setting and mow more frequently. Longer grass blades (2½-3")provide more shade and help retain moisture.
Water your gardens and flowerbeds in the cool of early morning or late evening to decrease evaporation which can be as much as 30%.
If it doesn’t grow, don’t water it! Ensure that your sprinkler is positioned so that water is not wasted on sidewalks, gutters or paved areas.
Lay 2" of mulch around trees and plants to retain moisture.
Clean hard surfaces with a broom, not a hose.
Wash vehicles with a bucket and sponge instead of a hose.
Get a cover for your pool and cut evaporation up to 90%.
Council Resolution: We will allocate the necessary resources to develop and implement a strategic energy management plan that will reduce our energy consumption and its related environmental impact.
Vision
We exercise stewardship in our use of finite energy resources to demonstrate leadership, optimize our delivery of services, and enhance the overall quality of life in our community.
Policy
We will incorporate energy efficiency into all areas of our activity including our organizational and human resources management procedures, procurement practices, financial management and investment decisions, and facility operations and maintenance.
Goals
To continuously improve the energy efficiency of our facilities and processes in order to reduce our operating costs, our energy consumption and the concomitant greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall Target
We will reduce our consumption of fuels and electricity in all municipal operations each year between now and 2020.
Objectives
To implement energy audits on all municipal facilities during the next five years;
To convert all lighting in town facilities, parking lots and street lighting to LED.
We need reliable, low-cost, sustainable energy sources delivering energy to the most efficient facilities and energy-consuming technology feasible.
Stakeholder Needs
Internal stakeholders (Council, CAO, staff) need to be able to clearly communicate the corporate commitment to energy efficiency, and to develop the skills and knowledge required to implement energy management practices and measures. External stakeholders (the Province, community citizens and groups) need the municipality to be accountable for energy performance and to minimize the energy component of the costs of municipal services.
Municipal Energy Situation
Our assessment of organizational capacity for energy management with respect to energy policy; organizational structure; employee awareness, skills and knowledge; energy information management; communications; and investment practices indicates the following: The Town of Mono has pursued many measures to improve the energy efficiency of municipal equipment. Some of these measures include: Interior and exterior lighting upgrades at the town offices and Monora Park Pavilion Proposal to Council for conversion to LED street lighting Approved FIT project for solar photovoltaic applications at Town facilities. As the understanding of corporate energy consumption improves, staff will be equipped with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions. This improved understanding will also reveal how simple actions like commissioning and maintenance procedures can improve existing equipment efficiency.
How We Manage Energy Today
The management of energy consumption and the energy performance of our facilities and equipment are the responsibilities of: Finance (cost management), Works Department (maintenance), Department managers (operations), the CAO for leadership.
Summary of Current Energy Consumption, Cost and GHGs
Summaries of energy consumption and greenhouse gas may be found in appendices to this plan.
Trends in Energy Consumption
Our energy consumption decreased due to efficiency created by upgrading our buildings with spray foam insulation, high efficiency furnaces and LED lighting retrofits. This trend will continue with additional upgrades and retrofits.
Summary of Current Technical Practices
Our assessment of operations and maintenance practices, facility and equipment condition, and energy performance indicators establishes the following priorities:
Development of standard operating procedures incorporating energy efficiency optimization,
Enhancement of preventative maintenance procedures,
Continuation of our retrofit of lighting system in Mono Centre Community Centre in 2015
Implementation of the LED Street lighting conversion in 2014.
Renewable Energy Utilized or Planned
The Town of Mono aspires to show leadership in the promotion and development of renewable energy systems that are compatible with our asset management and land use planning objectives. As a result, we have applied for and received approval to develop a solar photovoltaic system on the rooftop of the municipal garage/shop building, subject to capacity of the adjoining street hydro system to take the resultant additional current. The town will consider possibilities for additional roof top installations on municipal buildings.
As an integral component of the management structure, the energy management plan is coordinated with the municipality's budget planning process, preventative maintenance plans, environmental management plan, and the overall asset management plan.
We will develop criteria for the design and/or acquisition of new buildings that include energy performance factors and that use as appropriate the principles embedded in performance standards such as LEED and the Model National Energy Code for Buildings.
Business Procedures
We will carry out a comprehensive review of all business processes and modify them as necessary in order to incorporate energy efficiency considerations.
We will carry out the required development of business procedures and communication programs and implement them methodically according to the planned timelines within the resources constraints that apply.
Asset Level
We use department and facility energy team representatives to facilitate the implementation of facility level business procedures and communication initiatives, including energy performance reporting.
Overall Target: We will reduce our overall municipal energy consumption (from all facilities and streetlights) by 5% from 2014 (based on baseline data) to 2019. The baseline was determined by averaging the annual consumption in ekWh for 2011 and 2012 for all facilities reported under Regulation 397/11 plus streetlights as they are such a significant energy consumer.
Green House Gas Emission
Governments at all levels are moving to address emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), in light of scientific evidence on how human activities are affecting the world's climate. For more information on the science, see the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The combustion of fossil fuels in buildings is a major source of GHG emissions that fall under local government influence. Municipalities can lower emissions by improving energy efficiency of buildings and using more renewable energy. The Town of Mono is committed to both objectives through the development and implementation of this Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan (CDM). We will continue to track and report on GHGs as part of our regular reporting on energy consumption and will evaluate progress in this area against our overall reduction target.
Cost
Summary of Current Energy Consumption, Cost and GHGs: The current energy usage by building is detailed in Appendix A. Our energy usage is updated monthly in the Energy Planning Tool (EPT) and reported annually to the Ministry of Energy.
Energy Consumption: We will review and evaluate our energy plan, revising and updating it as necessary, on an annual basis as based on the Energy Consumption Reports that are submitted to the Ministry of Energy on an annual basis as required under Regulation 397/11.
The Mono Community Policing Committee is run by volunteers who live and/or work in the Town of Mono and meets bimonthly to allow for feedback from committee members, individual residents, and the OPP Community Policing Officer. The committee also operates the Neighbourhood Watch program.
Tax certificates show the amount of money owing against a property. If you are buying a new property you can order a certificate to be sure there are no outstanding amounts owing when you take ownership. Anyone can purchase a tax certificate by submitting a letter requesting a tax certificate, along with the fee payable to the Town of Mono.
You may email a scanned PDF letter request and cheque copy to cathy.crawford@townofmono.com. The original letter along with payment should be placed in the mail the same date as the request.
The Planning department ensures that development in the Town is environmentally and economically sustainable and meets the development guidelines set by the municipality.
Prior to contacting the Planning department, it is highly recommend to go through the resources on this page. Should you still have questions, you may use the form on this page to contact us. The form expedites your request/inquiry as it gives us all the information we need to start answering your question or providing you with next steps.
What can I do on my property? (Zoning Inquiries & Permitted Uses)
Determining your zoning and understanding the uses permitted on the property (i.e., what you can do on your property) is a two-step process:
1. Lookup the zoning of your property on our interactive mapping. Start by entering the address into the Planning Map Quick Search Bar (if your address does not show up, you will need the tax roll number located on your tax bill). Click on the property and toggle through the arrows on the pop-up window until you find the zoning. If your property is under Niagara Escarpment Control (NEC), you must contact the NEC.
2. Check our Zoning Bylaw (Bylaw 78-1, as amended) for the uses permitted for that zone. This will give you allowable uses, building setbacks and sizes.
Dufferin County operates as the Town's building department and supports the community with permit applications, document requests, and general information.
Can I Sever My Lot? Or Building an Additional Residence
Determining whether a property can be severed takes considerable research time. It requires the Town's consultant planner to review the property history, Zoning Bylaw, Town and County Official Plans, Provincial Planning Statement, Planning Act and other jurisdictional plans governing the property (Greenbelt Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine, etc.). Should you wish to begin this process, you must fill out the Contact Form on this page. Depending on the nature of your request and the staff time required, a fee may apply. The Town's Planning Consultant will follow-up with you.
Getting Started: Application and Other Planning Forms
To begin the application process, please review the Town's application and other Planning-related forms. The forms contain valuable information about the documents and information the Planning department will need to begin reviewing your application.
VIEW FORMS
Fees
Planning fees are determined by the Town's Fees and Charges bylaw.
The Planning department receives a high volume of inquiries. The resources on the page are meant to help you find what you are looking for quickly. If you need help, please fill out the form to provide us the information we need to efficiently respond to your questions/request.
