Hamilton City Council has set its 2025 water rate budget, paving the way for a number of key infrastructure investments.

The multi-year budget prioritizes resilient infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and the reliable delivery of essential water services.

Key initiatives include building critical projects to replace and modernize water and wastewater treatment systems will enhance service reliability and protect public health, improving stormwater systems will help the city better manage extreme weather events and mitigate flooding risks, and making strategic investments to support community growth, meet regulatory requirements, and minimize operating costs.

The City of Hamilton has the second-oldest drinking water system and third-oldest wastewater system in Canada, with lower city water and sewer infrastructure dating back to the mid-1800s.

It plans to make major repairs to, or replace, 125 kilometres of water and sewer pipes within the next five years.

The budget will increase the average household water bill by $96, or about 10 percent compared to 2024. The city says the increase will fund essential repairs, replacements, and modernization projects, including ongoing work at the Woodward Water Treatment Plant, the Woodward Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Dundas Wastewater Treatment Plant.

For example, it plans to spend about $29 million to rehabilitate primary clarifiers and upgrade associated process equipment at the Woodward Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant.

It also aims to spend $252 million to overhaul the Dundas Wastewater Treatment Plant, and more than $340 million on construction at the Woodward plant.

Major upgrades to both, the city says, will improve service reliability, support growth and development, and enhance environmental stewardship to protect local waterways and natural ecosystems.

The city owns and manages $14.6 billion in water, stormwater, and wastewater assets ($4.25 billion in water, $3.14 billion in stormwater and $7.25 billion in wastewater), including 5,266 kilometres of water and sewer pipes and more than 250 facilities.