Your tap water met all of the State’s drinking water health criteria last year. Our system has never exceeded a maximum pollutant level or any other water quality standard, something we are quite pleased of. We tested for more than 180 pollutants last year.
Pre-authorized payment
Fill out our Pre-Authorized Debit Agreement form to set up pre-authorized payment and have your money automatically deducted from your bank account. You can submit the form by using the following method:
Online water billing
Online billing allows you to make one-time payments. If you’re making one-time payments, you don’t need to create an account.
With online billing, you can also set up Autopay. You can set up autopay to pay your bills when and how you want.
By online banking
Water bill payments are available through most Canadian banks’ online banking services. Include the terms Peel water or Region of Peel water in your search for the bill payee. To set up the bill payee, you’ll need your 10-digit water account number. Your water bill’s top-right corner has this number.
By mail
If you pay by mail, we only take checks. Make the check payable to the Peel Region. We also accept cheques with a future date.
Please include the water payment stub with your check in the return envelope that came with your water bill so that we can apply it to the correct account.
At your bank
You can pay your water bill in person or at an automated bank machine at most major banks (ABM). To make a payment, bring your water bill or payment stub to the bank.
In-person
With the exception of the Town of Caledon, which only accepts cheques in a sealed envelope with stub, we accept in-person payments by cheque, cash, or debit at one of our locations.
Where does the water in Oswego, New York originate from?
Water is provided by the City of Oswego Water to approximately 29,400 residents in the Oswego area of New York. The City of Oswego Water Department, which was founded in 1828, now gets its water from Lake Ontario, which is a surface water source.
Is it possible to check my water bill online?
Yes, you can check your water bill online at your water board’s official website. To check your water bill, you must first log onto their portal.
How can I get a copy of my water bill?
1. On your phone, dial *888#.
2. You’ll be sent to a window with seven alternatives.
3. In the dialogue window, type ‘2’ to query your bill.
It’s that easy, and you can then move on to any of the other seven tasks available.
If you get your water from Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, you can pay your bill with M-PESA:
1. From your M-PESA menu, select Pay Bill.
2. Next, type in NWC12345 as the bill account number; the final five digits are your unique NCWSC meter number.
3. Enter the amount you want to pay next.
4. Enter your M-PESA PIN here.
5. Verify that the information is correct and click OK.
6. You will receive a confirmation message from M-PESA confirming the payment after a few minutes.
7. For Airtel users, substitute ‘Nairobi Water’ for the Business No.
The procedure for paying your water bill with M-PESA or Airtel Money is the same if you live outside of the capital city.
1. Pay bill number for Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation: 895 500
2. Pay bill number: 517 000 Kisumu Water Company
3. 111 444 is the bill number for Nakuru Water Pay.
4. 511 000 is the bill number for Eldoret Water Pay.
901 325 is the bill number for Nithi Water and Sanitation.
885 100 is the bill number for Kiambu Water Pay.
Number of Garissa Water Pay Bill: 880 600
Pay bill number: 363 100 Mavoko Water and Sewerage Company
If you have any questions, you can contact NWSC directly through their official Twitter profile or Facebook page. On social media platforms, responses are frequently given quickly.
Is it possible to swim in the Oswego River?
I grew up on the banks of the Oswego River and have many fond memories of it. I learnt to swim in the river and spent a lot of time there fishing or simply walking down the coast with my pals. Although there are a few “river walks” that pass along the coast, the river is not well developed as a tourist destination.
Is there pollution in the Oswego River?
The Oswego River is a 23-mile-long river that originates at the confluence of the Oneida and Seneca rivers in central New York. The Oswego River flows from Three Rivers Point to Lake Ontario, passing through the towns of Phoenix, Himansville, Minetto, Seneca Hill, and Oswego.
The Oswego watershed, which covers over 5000 square miles of land, receives stormwater runoff from millions of acres of farmland as well as the Syracuse metropolitan region. Along the Oswego River, there are six dams and eight locks. Every day, more than 4.2 billion gallons of water flow through the river, and over 2 million people reside in the basin’s catchment area.
The Oswego is a major waterway in the area that has historically sparked a lot of economic activity. The Onondaga, Iroquois, and Clackamas resided along the river, benefiting from the abundant fauna and game that the river basin provided.
The river’s name is derived from the original Onondaga term “OSH WE GEH,” which means “river’s mouth.”
Later, settlers built a slew of water-powered flour, woolen, and paper mills along the river’s banks, propelled by the Oswego’s swift currents. The river’s commercial importance, however, resulted in its destruction and exploitation.
Built in the 1870s, the Oswego cloth factory is located along the river’s edge (Hudson Valley Ruins)
The Oswego Canal, which connected the economically vibrant Erie Canal with Lake Ontario from 1850 to 1875, making the river basin a desirable place for manufacturers to establish operations. Salt makers and metal processing factories frequently poured the by-products of their production operations directly into the watershed, with little consideration for the surrounding ecology.
Furthermore, untreated sewage was routinely thrown into the Oswego River until the 1960s, when sewage treatment units were built. The harbor region at the river mouth became hazardous due to a combination of untreated wastewater and manufacturing by-products, posing a threat to local residents’ water supply.
The Oswego River is home to a number of different fish species. Chinook salmon, walleye, smallmouth bass, steelhead trout, and yellow perch are just a few of the species. Nearby folks frequently visit the Oswego River’s banks in the hopes of catching one of the many fish that swim in the river’s waters.
The fall chinook salmon run is a highly prized catch that draws many people to the streets of Oswego and Fulton.
The Oswego watershed is Lake Ontario’s second largest tributary, after the Niagara River. As a result, contaminants in the river from sewage discharge, rainwater and agricultural runoff, and industrial waste pollute the environment of the Great Lake.
Pollution from the Oswego River has a number of harmful effects on Lake Ontario. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation began researching the sources of pollution to Lake Ontario from the Oswego River Basin after it was designated as an EPA area of concern.
Four significant pollutants in Lake Ontario mirex, PCBs, dioxin, and mercury were shown to have likely come from the Oswego watershed.
In 1987, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the Oswego River watershed as an Area of Concern (AOC). Toxic pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), oil, and cyanide were found in high concentrations that exceeded prescribed safety guidelines.
Toxic pollutants accumulated as a result of wastewater contamination, industrial dumping, and polluted stormwater runoff, according to the EPA. For example, a state of New York report discovered that one chemical manufacturing factory spilled a variety of pollutants into the river on a regular basis, including sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and mercury wastes.
The Oswego Westside sewage treatment plant would dump wastewater directly into the port, as would the Niagara Mohawk Power Company’s cooling water. These effluents leaked toxic chemicals and compounds into the river, endangering riparian biodiversity and Lake Ontario’s health.
Plastic pollution has harmed the Oswego watershed and has become a serious ecological hazard in the Great Lakes region. Over 3 million pounds of plastic debris is estimated to end up in Lake Ontario each year, according to the Plastic Lakes Project.
One of the main causes of pollution, according to scientists, is the accumulation of microplastics from plastic littering.
Along the river’s banks and in the lake’s waters, everything from disposable plastic bags to single-use water bottles and wrappers has been found in plenty. Plastic debris accounts for 80% of all litter along the Great Lakes beaches, and once these items enter the water, they degrade due to the sun and waves.
However, polyester clothing accounts for the great bulk of microplastics, as plastic fibers fall off in washing machines and end up in lakes.
The discharge of a variety of effluents, as well as the numerous structural changes done along the Oswego’s path, resulted in a slew of detrimental environmental impacts. Native fish populations fell as particular sections of the river near the Varick dam became seasonally dry, resulting in the death of fish eggs.
Furthermore, manufacturers’ releases of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the Oswego River and Lake Ontario constituted a serious health risk to locals.
PCBs are widely found in coolants and insulation, according to the National Institutes of Health. They’re linked to health problems like infertility and neurobehavioral issues in kids, and they can even lead to comas or death.
Excess phosphorus released into the Oswego River by sewage treatment plants has also contributed to a series of catastrophic algae blooms across Lake Ontario.
According to the US Geological Survey, high phosphorus concentrations cause eutrophication, or the removal of oxygen from lake waters. Animals die off and enormous plant growths spread across the lake surface when there isn’t enough oxygen.
Plastics are continuing to build up in the Oswego watershed and Lake Ontario region. They are swallowed by local fish and marine mammals, causing significant harm.
According to reports, plastics affect animal feeding habits, impair reproduction, and even cause mortality. However, the consequences of plastic pollution do not end at the natural world’s doorstep.
Plastic particles accumulate as animals go through the food chain due to biological amplification.
Humans are exposing themselves to a variety of severe health concerns when they ingest fish that have been contaminated with excessive quantities of plastic.
Humans, animals, and plants are all at risk from feces-contaminated water. Surprisingly, the Oswego River appears to be in a never-ending battle with raw sewage invading its freshwater supply.
Wildlife is at risk from untreated wastewater, which introduces hazardous bacteria and pathogens into aquatic habitats. The dangers of untreated sewage to people are as alarming. Cholera, salmonella, and gastroenteritis have all been linked to sewage.
To reduce pollution in the Oswego watershed region and Lake Ontario, a number of business and civil society initiatives have sprung up. For example, the Brookfield Power Company, which manages the Varick Dam, promised to build fish passage networks and keep bypass flows to a minimum.
This allowed native fish populations to lay eggs and hatch in a timely manner without the risk of the river drying up, as in prior years.
- Advanced art students from SUNY Oswego collaborated to produce an educational arts campaign and display for the general public to raise awareness about human and industry causes to plastic pollution in Lake Ontario.
- Another program at the state school, the Shining Waters Program, organizes weekly clean-ups of the Lake Ontario vicinity, with students helping to collect plastic waste.
- Plastic Lakes Project and the Alliance for the Great Lakes regularly monitor levels of plastic pollution in Lake Ontario and lead beach clean-ups to reduce the material’s negative effects.
The preservation of Oswego has involved a number of administrative players. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the provincial government of Ontario, and local municipal governments are among them.
After taking considerable steps to mitigate river pollution, the Oswego River Basin became the first of the EPA’s 26 areas of concern (AOC) to be delisted.
Many beneficial measures enhanced the water quality and riparian habitat of the Oswego region thanks to the involvement of regional authorities, businesses, and local communities.
Stricter limitations on the discharge of dangerous contaminants like PCBs and phosphorus were set under an EPA remedial action plan, while monitoring techniques were also improved.
Microplastics were banned in soaps, shampoos, and face scrubs by the federal government in 2017. In addition, in 2019, the New York State Legislature opted to outlaw single-use plastic bags across the state.
Both of these initiatives are projected to contribute to a reduction in the amount of plastic in the river’s waters. In 2014, the city of Oswego committed to investing $87 million in renovating and updating its sewage program and operations.
Despite these positive signs, the river continues to be plagued by sewage and garbage. Since the 1960s’ low point, there have been moments of improvement, but successive administration interventions have only resulted in occasional development.
The Oswego River, as a designated Area of Concern, was required to follow a 1991 Remedial Action Plan to bring the river into compliance with water quality regulations. However, it appears that things aren’t turning out as planned.
- Despite the fact that the region was declared clean enough to be delisted by the EPA in 2006, Oswego was fined almost $100,000 by the Department of Justice only four years later for permitting sewage to enter the river.
- Local governments were found to be failing to separate wastewater from stormwater runoff, according to the DOJ. As a result, local treatment plants were frequently overburdened, and sewage spilled into the Oswego River.
- During the years 2014-2015, a local Oswego supervisor was sentenced to prison for willfully discharging more than 60 times the legally authorized amount of raw sewage into Lake Ontario.
- A number of studies have also revealed that plastic contamination in the Great Lakes is a reoccurring problem. Despite the administration’s recent initiatives, the amount of plastic in Lake Ontario is increasing year after year.
To address these life-threatening challenges, regional authorities appear unable to make meaningful, long-term investments and community involvement.
In the Oswego region, there is a clear need for substantial conservation effort. The irresponsible use of chemical and plastic resources has put the Great Lakes’ biodiversity at risk, as well as putting human health at risk.
Despite the millions of dollars invested by the administration to solve this problem, there are still significant obstacles to overcome.
Some leading environmentalists argue that it’s all a matter of perspective. So far, initiatives in the Oswego River and Lake Ontario have focused on reducing the symptoms of plastic pollution.
Leading experts, such as Tamara Galloway of the University of Exeter, have argued that the best solutions will focus on fixing the problem at its source: a faulty economic model.
Plastics are difficult to reintroduce into the natural environment, making them a non-renewable resource.
All resources used in the manufacturing and consuming processes, on the other hand, can be cycled back into the natural environment in a perfect circular economic model.
This approach reduces waste and guarantees that products are used for longer periods of time.
Everyday folks are an important part of the answer in the case of the Oswego River and Lake Ontario.
Every person can contribute to a brighter future by taking basic efforts like reducing the use of single-use plastic products, incorporating reusable materials into daily routines, and being aware of the dangers of microfiber plastic contamination in laundry.
What is the procedure for checking my water bill by SMS?
Customers with restricted or no internet access can subscribe to get monthly bill alerts through SMS by signing up for an SMS subscription “Water Bill.” By texting MayniladONCANAccount Name to 09191626000, they can do so.
Customers can also enroll in a guided enrollment program “Call Maynilad’s Hotline 1626 or send a private message to Maynilad’s Facebook page or Twitter account to inquire about “My Water Bill.” They only need to supply an email address and/or a cell phone number, and Maynilad’s customer service representatives will take care of the rest.
Customers who have not yet signed up for Maynilad’s “My Water Bill” service can use the company’s freshly extended “Bill on Demand SMS Bill Facility.” Customers who want to know their current bill right away can submit it to 0919-1626-000 by typing MayniladBILLCONTRACT ACCOUNT NUMBER on their cellphones. There is no need to register. Maynilad temporarily paused meter reading and on-site billing activities following the adoption of the ECQ in order to protect the safety of its customers and service providers and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Water bills are now being calculated based on the average consumption of the previous three months, as permitted by the MWSS Regulatory Office (per MWSS RO-OPP-052-03). Corrections will only be added to future bills once the company is able to re-deploy its service providers to do actual meter readings.