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Water & Wastewater
Oxford County owns and is responsible for the management, maintenance, and long-term capital planning for the County's water and wastewater systems. Oxford County operates all Water Treatment facilities and Wastewater Treatment Plants. The City of Woodstock and the Town of Tillsonburg operate portions of the water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Oxford County operates and maintains the water distribution and wastewater collection system in the remaining Area Municipalities and select portions of the City of Woodstock and Town of Tillsonburg systems.
If you have questions about water quality or meter issues, please contact your billing agent as shown on your utility bill. For after-hour emergency calls, find the numbers for your area listed on the Billing page.
Questions? Contact Public Works at 1-800-755-0394 from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
Boil water advisory in parts of Tillsonburg
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Why is there a boil water advisory in effect for parts of Tillsonburg? During regular sampling of the water distribution system in Tillsonburg, one water sample out of 11 taken within the affected area was found to have 1 total coliform and 1 E. coli per 100 mL. The results were immediately reported to Southwestern Public Health and the provincial Spill Action Centre. Public Health then issued a Boil Water Advisory for the affected area: east of Broadway to Tillson Avenue and south of North Street East to Oxford Street. Oxford County staff delivered notices last evening to homes and residences that are located in the affected area.
How long will this take? Public Health requires two (2) consecutive sets of samples returned without bacteria presence, taken at least 24 hours apart, in order to rescind (end) the boil water advisory. Each sample takes 24 hours for the lab to process, subject to its regular operating hours.
What has been done so far? Southwestern Public Health, the Town of Tillsonburg and Oxford County are working together. The re-sampling process begun immediately following the test result. Staff have flushed the system from hydrants in the area and confirmed adequate chlorine residuals. We are working together to notify people through media, social media, and the delivery of 300 notices to those living in the affected area.
How often are drinking water samples normally taken? Water samples are collected every week from all wells, treatment plants, and various locations in the distribution system to monitor the safety of the water.
Should I be concerned about my health? Through the boil water advisory, Southwestern Public Health Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock is advising residents in the affected area to bring their tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, making infant formula and juice, brushing teeth, washing raw foods, and making ice. For information or to ask questions related to personal health and safety during the boil water advisory, please visit www.swpublichealth.ca/en/community-health/boil-water-advisory-faq.aspx |
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What's new
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Canada Post strike disruptions for online backflow tag purchases |
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Online backflow tag purchases made through the website using Shopify will not be processed until the strike ends, and current orders may be delayed. Residents are encouraged to purchase backflow tags at the Oxford County Administration Building. Find more information about the Canada Post service disruptions for Oxford County in the Newsroom. |
| Learn how to conserve water with Duck |
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Watch as Duck helps promote water conservation and offers smart watering tips to help you get the most out of your watering this summer. Learn more about the Water Conservation Program and find smart watering tips on the Oxford County Water Conservation page. |
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2024-2030 Water Financial Plan |
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Oxford County operates an amalgamated water system that serves 21 communities with approximately 36,762 connections across four groupings: Woodstock, Tillsonburg, Ingersoll and Townships. The Water Financial Plan provides the financial projections that illustrate the sustainability of Oxford's water systems, including operational forecasts, capital investment strategies and debt management. Read the 2024 Water Financial Plan. |
| William Street SPS Class EA - Tavistock |
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The Public Consultation Centre for the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for a preliminary preferred servicing solution for the William Street Sewage Pumping Station in Tavistock is now available online through Speak Up, Oxford!
Project team members presented alternative servicing solutions, the evaluation criteria for selecting the preliminary preferred servicing solution, and the preliminary preferred solution to support ongoing sanitary servicing needs and anticipated growth to the year 2046.
Watch the video and view slides from the Public Consultation Centre online here.
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| Drinking water system annual reports |
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The 2023 Annual Water System Performance Summary Reports are now online. Oxford County treated and supplied approximately 10.7 million cubic metres of clean, safe and reliable drinking water to 21 communities through 17 municipal drinking water systems last year. At the time of the February 28 report to County Council, results were available for eight of Oxford’s municipal drinking water system inspections completed by Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Six systems received 100% inspection ratings (Brownsville, Embro, Hickson, Mount Elgin, Oxford South and Thamesford); one system received a 97% rating (Lakeside); and one system received a 96% rating (Beachville). The remaining systems inspection report ratings were either not available at the time of the Council report or the inspection had not yet been carried out. See the 2023 drinking water system annual reports online here. |
| Annual Wastewater System Performance Reports and Annual Biosolids Summary Report |
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The 2023 Annual Wastewater System Performance Reports and the 2023 Annual Biosolids Summary Report are now available online. The County’s nine wastewater treatment plants demonstrated continued exceptional performance in 2023. Based on approximately 4,829 effluent samples collected and analyzed in 2023, three of the County’s nine municipal wastewater treatment plants achieved 100% compliance ratings, with the remaining six receiving the following: Thamesford 99%, Tillsonburg 98%, Woodstock 98%, Norwich 96%, Plattsville 96% and Drumbo 93%.
Read the 2023 Annual Wastewater System Performance Reports and 2023 Annual Biosolids Summary Report |
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2024 Water and Wastewater Master Plan now online |
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The plan sets out Oxford County's long-term water and wastewater approach to managing current servicing needs as well as accommodating future projected population and employment growth to the year of 2046. Public participation and feedback played an important part in identifying the servicing needs and priorities of communities throughout Oxford County. Thank you to everyone who took part!
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Backflow Prevention Program |
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On June 14, 2023, Oxford County Council endorsed Oxford County By-law No. 6544-2023 Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention to further safeguard the municipal drinking water system by preventing contamination from non-drinking water sources. Backflow events can significantly impact residents, businesses, and the environment by impacting water quality, posing a health risk to consumers, and causing service interruptions. Oxford County is looking for plumbers certified by the Ontario Water Works Association or other governing body who can perform cross connection control surveys and backflow device testing within the County. Successful applicants must be qualified to conduct work in accordance with the Oxford County Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention by-law. Qualified testers will be added to the County registry. More about the Backflow Prevention Program and the Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention by-law |
| Keep fats, oils and grease out of the drain |
Fats, oils, and grease clog the sanitary sewer system, creating costly plumbing repairs potentially both for the homeowner and the County, which in turn can impact rates.
FOG cups are a great way to dispose of fats, oils, and grease. Store them in your fridge or freezer until the liquids harden and toss them in the trash. Oxford County offers FOG cups at no charge at the following locations.
- Oxford County Administration Building
- Oxford County Library branches (all 14 branches)
- Oxford County Waste Management Facility
- Township of South-West Oxford office
- Town of Tillsonburg office
- Township of Zorra office
Public Works safely treats residential and industrial wastewater that goes down drains and into sewers, but keeping our infrastructure running is everyone’s responsibility. At home or at work, fats, oils and grease should never go down the drain. They can impact the sanitary sewer system and, for industrial users, can lead to fines under the County’s sewer use by-law. Questions? Contact seweruse@oxfordcounty.ca.
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| Estimate your water and wastewater bill |
| Oxford County's online calculator lets you estimate the monthly and annual water bill for someone living in your community. Try the calculator here |
| Need a locate? Call before you dig. |
| Before you dig, you must contact On 1 Call for all water and sewer locates. On 1 Call offers a free, 24/7 locate service both online or by calling 1-800-400-2255. |
Oxford County Council approved the Water Financial Plan for 2024-2030 on August 14, 2024. The plan is a requirement by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks for the issue or renewal of municipal drinking water licenses under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. 
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