Water and Sewer Services | County of Grande Prairie

Please be advised that 101 Avenue between 100 Street and 101 Street in the Hamlet of Hythe is under construction for sewer system inspections and repairs.

We provide water and sewer service to the Hamlets of Bezanson, Hythe, La Glace and Teepee Creek, and sewer service in the Hamlet of Valhalla.

Apply for water or sewer services

To apply for water and/or sewer services in Bezanson, Hythe, La Glace, Teepee Creek or Valhalla, follow the steps below:

Fees for water and sewer services

Water and sewer services rates are outlined in the Schedule of Fees bylaw.

Water and Sewer Rate Changes

On March 1, 2026, water and sewer rates are increasing to flat uniform rates for all County water and sewer customers.

What is changing for residential and commercial customers in County hamlets?

County residential and commercial water and sewer customers will see an increase on their bills in May 2026. County residential water will be $75 monthly ($150 bi-monthly) and sewer will be $50 monthly ($100 bi-monthly).

The commercial rates for water will be $350 bi-monthly and commercial sewer will increase to $150 bi-monthly (Level 1), $200 bi-monthly (Level 2), and $300 bi-monthly (Level 3). The new rates will be reflected on your March - April 2026 bi-monthly water and sewer bills sent in May. Billing will continue bi-monthly.

Who is affected by these changes?

The changes apply to Bezanson, Hythe, La Glace, Teepee Creek, and Valhalla residents who receive water and/or sewer services from the County.

These rates do not apply to residents who receive water and sewer services from Aquatera, or have their own well, cistern or septic system.

Why is the County increasing fees?

• To maintain water and sewer service in hamlets as systems age and reach capacity.
• To make rates fairer, so customers in all County hamlets pay the same flat rates for the same County services.
• To help offset day-to-day operating costs. The County continues to pay a portion of costs to provide water and sewer services.

Are these changes connected to water meters or billing based on consumption?

No. Meters are not being used to bill people based on how much water they use. Water meters were installed or upgraded to help the County detect leaks and monitor system performance.

Why will Hythe customers see a larger increase?

Hythe water and sewer rates were based the former Village of Hythe’s fee structure. As part of their transition into the County, they are now being brought into alignment with other County hamlets.

How were the new rates determined?

Council set the new flat rates after several years of work that included:
• Engineering assessments of hamlet water and sewer systems and their long-term needs
• Reviewing how much it costs to run the systems compared to current billing revenue
• Checking how County rates compare with similar communities
• Considering advice from Administration and the Water and Wastewater Committee

Are water and sewer services subsidized by the County?

Yes. Current hamlet utility rates recover only a portion of operating costs and do not contribute to capital reserves – funds the County sets aside for future repairs. The increased fees will help offset costs, but water and sewer services are still subsidized by County taxes.
The March 1, 2026, increase is the first step. Annual increases are expected over the next four years so the County can gradually move toward greater cost recovery. Council has directed Administration to move toward a target of 25% cost recovery on water and 75% cost recovery on sewer.

Cost recovery refers to the amount of the utility’s operating costs being paid by users on their utility bills instead of being paid from general taxes.

Is this increase due to the County's capital plan for utilities?

No. The County’s 10-year Water and Sewer Capital Plan for hamlet systems, worth about $30 million, is funded through the County’s capital budget and external grants, not through utility rates. The changes to flat rate charges are about recovering some operating costs, not infrastructure project costs.

How much will my bill go up?

The exact increase will depend on whether you receive water, sewer or both services and on your current hamlet rates. In general:
• Most residential water customers outside Hythe will see moderate increases
• Hythe residential water customers will see a larger percentage increase because their current water rate is lower than rates charged in other hamlets

How do the new water and sewer rates compare to other nearby municipalities?

A review of seven similar municipalities shows an average monthly residential water and sewer bill of about $130.59, with municipal fixed (flat) delivery costs typically ranging from roughly $71 to $96 per month, depending on the system.

The County compared its rates to regional municipalities including Saddle Hills County, MD of Greenview, MD of Fairview, County of Northern Lights, Birch Hills County, Big Lakes County, and MD of Smoky River.

What is the difference between ‘sewage’ and ‘sewer’?

‘Sewage’ is the wastewater itself, which is why it appears on your bill. ‘Sewer’ refers to the entire infrastructure system. There’s no difference in what you’re paying for. The County uses the term ‘sewer’ to describe its service.

Am I able to disconnect from the County’s water or sewer services?

No. It is not possible to disconnect from your existing water or sewer services.

How can I sign up for online or electronic billing?

Signing up is easy and convenient through the County’s MyProperty online service.
With MyProperty, you can:
• View utility and property tax information online
• Pay utility and tax bills online
• Sign up for e-billing to get an email when your utility bill and property tax notice are ready
• Create a profile and add utility and property tax accounts
For more information and step-by-step instructions, visit www.countygp.ab.ca/myproperty
How can residents stay updated?
To stay updated, visit www.countygp.ab.ca/water-and-sewer and follow the County on Facebook.

Who can I contact with questions?

For questions, contact:
Transportation and Utilities
Phone: 780-532-7393
Email: tuadmin@countygp.ab.ca

Help keep our system working well

Check out some examples of what should never be put down the drain or flushed down the toilet:

Cat litter	Cigarette butts	Condoms
Dental floss	Disinfecting wipes	Disposable gloves
Feminine products	Fish	Grease
Hair	Napkins	Pharmaceuticals
Tissues	Wipes of any kind

Learn more about

Lead in Drinking Water

The County of Grande Prairie is dedicated to providing clean, safe, quality drinking water for its communities and has developed a lead management program so we meet and exceed Health Canada's standards.

Health Canada published a new lead limit for the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, introducing two fundamental changes from how lead has been managed in drinking water since 1992. Under the guideline, the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) was lowered from 0.010 mg/L to 0.005 mg/L and testing is now conducted at the customer's tap instead of the distribution system.

The purpose of the Lead Management Program is to educate the public on:

mitigating lead exposure
protect public health from lead exposure.

Information for Customers

The County provides safe drinking water by closely monitoring the quality of the water entering the distribution system and provides water that exceeds the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

Selected homes and services will be sampled and tested based on their likelihood of having lead service lines. Please don't be concerned if you are chosen for sampling. If lead contamination is present, further sampling and testing will take place to confirm the location of lead contamination. This is to confirm if the lead contamination is occurring within the Country’s distribution system or the water service lines into and in the home.

Sources of Lead in drinking water

Drinking water delivered by the County of Grande Prairie is routinely tested to ensure safe drinking water. The County's drinking water is analyzed before and after it is treated. However, it is possible for lead to get into your drinking water from old service connections and plumbing. With the development of the new lead management program, we will residents help identify the source of any lead contamination and determine the next steps to create a solution.

Sources of lead can include old solder and brass plumbing fixtures. If you have any known plumbing fixtures in your home which contain lead, it is recommended that they be replaced with lead-free fixtures.

How to check if the homeowner portion of your water service line is lead:

Locate the water shut-off valve or water meter in your home. These are usually located in the basement.
Check the colour of the pipe that is coming out of the ground and into the meter. If the pipe is:
- Copper: it is likely copper
- Bluish green to black: it is likely plastic
- Dark grey: it is likely lead or galvanized iron
- Checking the hardness of the pipe can help determine if the pipe is lead. Lead is a very soft metal and scratches easily.

Although visual observation of the line inside the home can provide valuable information on whether the water service line is lead or not, it is not uncommon for lines to be comprised of mixed materials.

It is the County's responsibility to provide clean and safe drinking water that is to the Canadian Drinking Water Standards. If lead contamination is identified between the point of distribution and the tap in your home, the County will help identify where the source of lead is coming from, whether it be from inside the home, or the water main.

The Homeowner is responsible for any sources of lead contamination within the home or on the homeowners side of the property line. The County is responsible for any sources of lead contamination in the service line that runs from the distribution plant to the property line. This split ownership is common with most communities in North America.

Health Canada also has information for Canadians about Lead in drinking water.

Aquatera

Aquatera Utilities Inc. provides water and sewer service to Clairmont, and Wembley. If water and/or sanitary sewer service is required, please visit Aquatera's website or call 780-538-0340.

Aquatera is a regional utility corporation formed by the County of Grande Prairie, City of Grande Prairie, and Town of Sexsmith. It operates the wastewater treatment system, water distribution, water collection mains and structures, and sanitary sewer services for the City of Grande Prairie, Town of Sexsmith, Town of Wembley, and a portion of the County.

Hythe Water Meter Installations

Please be advised that water meter installations are ongoing in Hythe. The project is expected to be completed at the end of August.

Water meters help ensure water quality, identify problematic water use like running toilets, and bring all households in line with the County’s water use bylaws. The County would like to thank residents for their participation in this project and scheduling their installations.

For ongoing status updates, residents are encouraged to sign up for alerts via the County’s Voyent Alert notification system. Download the Voyent Alert! app on an iOS or Android device, or register for email, text, or phone alerts at https://register.voyent-alert.com. Learn more at www.countygp.ab.ca/alerts.

Hythe Sewer System Inspections and Repairs

Please be advised that the sewer system inspections and repairs in the Hamlet of Hythe have been completed. Part of this project included excavating the main road and completing the necessary road surface repairs. These road surface repairs will now be completed in the spring of 2026 to allow the road base to compact over the winter.

For ongoing status updates, including service outages, residents are encouraged to sign up for alerts via the County’s Voyent Alert notification system. Download the Voyent Alert app on an iOS or Android device, or register for email, text, or phone alerts at https://register.voyent-alert.com. Learn more at www.countygp.ab.ca/alerts.