Water Metering

In 2010, the Town of Comox introduced a water metering program to enable accurate billing for commercial and residential properties based on actual water usage and, to identify water leaks early so they can be repaired; this helps reduce overall water costs for all Comox residents.

Important Notes

Once a water meter is installed, the property will continue to be billed at the flat rate (shown on the annual Property Tax Notice, under Municipal Utility Service Fees) unless the property owner applies for metered billing which is based on actual water usage. See details below in the FAQs section.

If a property uses more than the annual threshold of 450 m³ (450,000 litres), it will be charged for the additional usage. The threshold is approximately twice the average usage at a home in Comox and is designed to encourage water conservation and recover costs from high-use properties. See details below in the FAQs section.

*** Updated December 2, 2025 ***

Review Your Metered Water Usage

METHOD 1 (view previous 4 months)

METHOD 2 (view previous 12 months)

Step 1:

Open the water meter report (PDF) showing the most recent monthly water usage for all meters within the Town.

Step 2:

Press the Ctrl and F keys together to open a 'Find' box in the upper right corner.

Note: If you are using a mobile device (tablet, cell phone) that does not display a keyboard while viewing a PDF then, save the PDF to your device files, open that saved file and use your device's search feature and continue with the step below.

Step 3:

Enter the property's assigned account number which is based on the property type outlined below, then press ENTER.

Residential: MXU number
Commercial: Account #
Strata: Strata Plan number

In the list, your account will highlight, read across that row for the last 12 months of usage.

View previous years:

Click on a year below and follow steps 2 and 3 above to find your account in the list.

Note: If your property's assigned MXU number (in step 3 above) has ever been changed, you will use your previous MXU number to search in the years prior to that change being made.

2024 / 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013

FAQs (frequently asked questions)

If you are a residential consumer and think that you use less water than a typical residential family (280 m³ per year) then you may be able to save on your annual billing by having a water meter installed and then applying to pay the metered rate.
To start the process, the property owner may complete a Water Meter Install Application: Residential form. The
Please direct any questions to the Finance department:
- in person or by mail: 1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox BC V9M 1R9
- email: finance@comox.ca
- phone: 250-339-2202
For most properties, the Municipal Utility Service Fees are included in the annual Property Tax Notice.
Consumer rates for water are governed by the Comox Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw 529, and depend on whether or not a water meter is installed on their service connection.
billing:
Properties with a water meter installed continue to be billed the Flat Rate Water Fee on the Property Tax Notice. If the annual use exceeds the threshold set by Council (450 m³ for 2025), additional charges apply (see High Water Use below). However, in many cases, properties with low water use find that paying for water by the metered rate can result in a lower water utility fee (see Change Billing Method in this FAQs section).
In 2025, metered customers will be invoiced a minimum of $75.52 for 60 m³ of water every four months ($1.44/m³ for any excess).
Meter Billing Schedule Invoiced Produced
2025 January to April May 2025
2025 May to August September 2025
2025 September to December January 2026

high water use:
If a property uses more than the annual threshold of 450 m³ (450,000 litres), it will be charged for the additional usage on a per-cubic-metre basis. If applicable, this charge is calculated in January of the following year. This threshold is approximately twice the average annual use of a metered home in Comox. Water rates are set out in Comox Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw 529 (Schedule “A”, Part II – General Consumer Rates). The annual threshold is designed to:
- Encourage water conservation.
- Recover costs from high-use properties.
The Town does not notify property owners of their high water use. It is the property owner’s responsibility to monitor their monthly water usage posted on the Town website - see Review Your Water Meter Usage section halfway down this webpage. You will need the account number for the property which was provided in the meter install letter sent to the property owner or, you may request it from the Finance department:
- in person or by mail: 1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox BC V9M 1R9
- email: finance@comox.ca
- phone: 250-339-2202 (ask for Finance)
If a water meter is installed at your property, you may wish to switch from flat-rate to metered (actual usage) billing or, from metered billing back to flat-rate.
To make a change, complete the Enroll & Withdraw form and submit to Town Finance no later than April 15th of the current property tax year. NOTE: A change must coincide with the property tax year (January to December). For example, if you were being billed by the metered usage and in August of 2025 you wanted to switch back to the flat rate, you would need to continue on the metered billing for the remainder of 2025. You would then need to submit your completed Enroll & Withdraw form to Town Finance before April 15, 2026. The flat rate water charge would then be listed on the 2026 Property Tax Notice under the Municipal Utility fee section.
Please direct any questions to the Finance department:
- in person or by mail: 1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox BC V9M 1R9
- email: finance@comox.ca
- phone: 250-339-2202
If a property exceeds the annual water use billing threshold, the property owner will be billed an Excessive Use Charge in January of the following year. The average residential property uses 280 m³ per year.
The current bylaw allows the Town to charge above the flat rate for properties with a meter that use above the annual billing threshold set by Town Council, more than 450 m³ per year (450,000 litres/yr). Any amounts not paid by the due date receive a 10% penalty and if still outstanding after December 31st the fee will become part of property taxes in arrears the following year.
View the Water Rates and Regulations Consolidated Bylaw No. 529
The Town does not notify property owners of their high water use. It is the property owner’s responsibility to monitor their water usage - usage is posted on the Town website - see Review Your Water Meter Usage section halfway down this webpage. You will need your Account or MXU number to enter into the search field -please refer to the meter install letter sent to the property owner or contact the Comox Town Hall Finance department:
- in person or by mail: 1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox BC V9M 1R9
- phone: 250-339-2202 (ask for Finance)
- email: finance@comox.ca
- fax: 250-339-7110
water use readings:
After a water meter has been installed, the Public Works department will mail a one-time letter to the property owner to advise of the install, the assigned account number, and how to look up monthly usage readings posted online - see the Review Your Metered Water Usage section halfway down this webpage. If you need the assigned account number, please contact the Finance department:
- in person or by mail: 1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox BC V9M 1R9
- email: finance@comox.ca
- phone: 250-339-2202 (ask for Finance)
high water use and excessive use charge:
The Town does not notify property owners of their high water use. It is the property owner’s responsibility to monitor their water use readings online - see above.
Any property with a meter (billed by flat rate or by meter) will be charged at the fee identified in Comox Water Rates and Regulations Bylaw 529 (see Schedule “A”, Part II – General Consumer Rates) for every cubic meter (m³) used above the annual billing threshold of 450 m³ (450,000 litres) per year. If applicable, this charge is calculated in January of the following year. This threshold is approximately twice the average use of a metered home in Comox. The purpose of a threshold is to encourage water conservation and help recover the cost of water used by high-use customers.
The Town has the right to install water meters under the bylaw adopted in 1979- View the Water Rates and Regulations Consolidated Bylaw No. 529
Properties with a water meter installed continue to be billed the Flat Rate Water Fee on the Property Tax Notice. If the annual use exceeds the threshold set by Council (450 m³ for 2024), additional charges apply. In many cases, properties with low water use find that paying for water by the metered rate can result in a lower water utility fee - see Change Billing Method in this FAQs section.
As per Bylaw 529, only authorized Town employees are permitted to turn off (then back on) the main water valve at the street as this is Town owned property.
Contact the Town as much in advance as possible (you can even book ahead) so that we can schedule our staff to meet your project timeline in the best way possible.
Our regular working hours for this service are M-F, 8am-4pm – closed weekends and statutory holidays.
- Regular working hours, contact the Public Works department - phone 250-339-5410 or email publicworks@comox.ca
- After Hours Emergency (leak), call the Town’s answering service, Protec: 250-338-9434
If a property has a water meter installed and the property owner has opted to pay the metered rate for water usage (rather than the flat rate) then, throughout the year, Town Finance will issue meter billing invoices.
If you would like to receive an email when these invoices are issued (or for the annual Property Tax Notice) then click the button below to register for an online account wherein you can add your Utility Account Number and Property Tax Roll Number.
Online Payment Fees Will Apply:
If you choose to make a payment online through this third party service, they will charge a fee of *2.9% + *$0.30 to you, the customer.
*These fees are current as at November 2024 and are subject to change.
Register or Log in for Online Service
Please direct any questions to the Finance department:
- in person or by mail: 1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox BC V9M 1R9
- email: finance@comox.ca
- phone: 250-339-2202 (ask for Finance)
Water Meters are generally installed within a concrete meter box at the property line - connection point between the Town’s water service system and the private property.
LEAK ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
If the leak is located inside the meter box or on the Town property side of the meter box, grassy boulevard, street, etc. please notify Comox Public Works Department by email or phone 250-339-5410.
LEAK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
If the leak is located on the private property side of the water meter box, the property owner must identify the leak and have it repaired.
Please read procedures below for Water Shutoff and Excess Water Use...
WATER SHUTOFF
As per Bylaw 529, only authorized Town employees are permitted to turn off (then back on) the main water valve at the street as this is Town owned property.
Contact the Town as much in advance as possible (you can even book ahead) so that we can schedule our staff to meet your project timeline in the best way possible.
Our regular working hours for this service are M-F, 8am-4pm – closed weekends and statutory holidays.
- Regular working hours, contact the Public Works department - phone 250-339-5410 or email publicworks@comox.ca
- After Hours Emergency (leak), call the Town’s answering service, Protec: 250-338-9434
EXCESS WATER USE
A leak on private property can cause the water use to exceed the annual water use billing threshold which will result in an Excessive Use Charge to the property owner.
If a private property leak causes the property to exceed the annual water use billing threshold, the property owner will be billed an Excessive Use Charge in January of the following year.
The average residential property uses 280 m³ per year. The current bylaw allows the Town to charge above the flat rate for properties with a meter that use above the annual billing threshold set by Town Council, more than 450 m³ per year (450,000 litres/yr).
Any amounts not paid by the due date receive a 10% penalty and if still outstanding after December 31st the fee will become part of property taxes in arrears the following year.
If a leak on private property is subsequently repaired, it may be possible to have the Excessive Use Charge reduced. For more information on a rate reduction for a repaired leak, please contact the Comox Town Hall Finance Department - see below.
The Town does not notify property owners of their high water use. It is the property owner’s responsibility to monitor their water usage which is posted on the Town website - see the Review Your Water Meter Usage section halfway down this webpage. You will need your Account or MXU number to enter into the search field -please refer to the meter install letter sent to the property owner or contact the Comox Town Hall Finance department - see below.
View the Water Rates and Regulations Consolidated Bylaw No. 529
Please direct any questions to the Finance department:
- in person or by mail: 1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox BC V9M 1R9
- email: finance@comox.ca
- phone: 250-339-2202 (ask for Finance)

Meter Billing Schedule	Invoiced Produced
2025 January to April	May 2025
2025 May to August	September 2025
2025 September to December	January 2026

Alert

Water Metering

Review Your Metered Water Usage

METHOD 1 (view previous 4 months)

METHOD 2 (view previous 12 months)

FAQs (frequently asked questions)

Town Hall:

Comox Community Centre:

Public Works (After Hours Emergency Line):

Fax: