Orangeville’s hidden water crisis: Millions lost to system leaks annually

Ongoing leaks in Ontario town's water system proving costly to municipality

Orangeville, Ont. – Leaks in the town’s water system are costing the municipality millions of dollars annually. Council heard this week that seven leaks were repaired in 2024, from January to September, amounting to metered costs of $568 a day and more than $200,000 per year. Last year, there were a dozen leaks reported during the same time frame, costing more than $3,000 a day and more than $1 million a year. Unaccounted for water from 2015 to …

Orangeville’s hidden water crisis: Millions lost to system leaks annually

By JAMES MATTHEWS A large portion of Orangeville’s total municipal water production volume is lost. Council heard during its March 23 meeting that the town repaired seven leaks in January 2024 and in September that year. That works out to metered water costs of $568 per day and $207,404 per year. Last year, a dozen leaks were found and repaired between January and September. In terms of metered water costs, many leaks cost $3,079 a day and $1.1 …