Water, Sewer & Fire Billing Services
Water Billing & Rates
Residents in serviced areas of Port Hastings, Judique, Port Hood, Mabou, Inverness, Whycocomagh, and Chéticamp can access the municipal water system.
- Billing Schedule: Water bills are sent out every three months, March, June, September, and December.
- Billing Options: You can get your bill by mail or sign up for electronic billing here.
- Payment Options: Learn about ways to pay your water bill here.
- Water Rates: Set by the Nova Scotia Energy and Regulatory Board. View the current water rates (see page 8).
- Charges: Your bill is based on how much water you use during each billing cycle.
*On January 20, 2026, municipal water utility customers who receive water utility bills via e-mail were sent two bills. Please note:
- The first bill does not include water consumption totals. This is an error and please disregard this bill.
- A second bill does include consumption totals and outlines the accurate total.
Residents who receive paper bills by mail are not affected.
The Municipality apologizes for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused.
Wastewater (Sewer) Billing & Rates
If you’re connected to the municipal sewer system, you’ll be charged for wastewater services. These charges cover the cost of treatment, maintenance, and administration.
How it’s charged:
- A Wastewater Service Area Rate is added to your property tax bill. It’s based on your property’s taxable value (per $100 of assessment).
- Only properties with access to the system are charged (whether you’re connected or can be).
Wastewater Service Area Rates (by district):
| District | Communities | Rate per $100 of Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Chéticamp/Pleasant Bay/Meat Cove | 0.414 |
| District 2 | Margaree/St. Joseph | N/A |
| District 3 | Inverness/Glenville/Dunvegan | 0.425 |
| District 4 | Whycocomagh/Orangedale/Ainslie | 0.425 |
| District 5 | Port Hood/Mabou | 0.425 |
| District 6 | Port Hastings/Judique/West Bay | 0.425 |
Fire Services Billing & Rates
Everyone in the municipality contributes to local fire protection services. These rates are set by each volunteer fire department and approved by municipal council after community input.
-
- How it’s charged:
-
- A flat rate per unit (used in Mabou, Pleasant Bay and Meat Cove)
OR
-
- an area rate based on property value per $100 of assessment (all other communities)
- The fee is included in your property tax bill, and all money goes directly to your local fire department.
Fire Department Area Rates (by district):
| District 1 – Chéticamp/Pleasant Bay/Meat Cove | Per $100 of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Chéticamp Fire Department Area Rate | $0.10 |
| Chéticamp Fire Department Area Rate (Commercial) | $0.06 |
| Flat Rate | |
| Pleasant Bay Fire Department Area Rate | $125 |
| Meat Cove Fire Department Area Rate | $60 |
| District 2 – Margaree/St. Joseph | Per $100 of Assessment |
|---|---|
| LeMoine Fire Department Rate | $0.08 |
| LeMoine Fire Department Rate (Commercial) | $0.05 |
| North East Margaree Fire Department Area Rate | $0.10 |
| Margaree Fire Department Area Rate | $0.10 |
| Margaree Fire Department Area Rate (Commercial) | $0.10 |
| District 3 – Inverness/Glenville/Dunvegan | Per $100 of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Inverness Fire Department Area Rate | $0.08 |
| District 4 – Whycocomagh/Orangedale/Ainslie | Per $100 of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Whycocomagh Fire Department Area Rate | $0.10 |
| Lake Ainslie/Upper Margaree Fire Department Area Rate | $0.10 |
| Valley Mills Fire Protection | $0.10 |
| Blues Mills Fire Protection | $0.05 |
| District 5 – Port Hood/Mabou | Flat Rate |
|---|---|
| Mabou (one dwelling) Volunteer Fire Department | $150 per one dwelling unit |
| Mabou (more than one dwelling) Volunteer Fire Department | $300 per more than two dwelling units |
| District 6 – Port Hastings/Judique/West Bay | Per $100 of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Port Hastings Volunteer Fire Department | $0.13 |
| Judique Volunteer Fire Department | $0.10 |
| West Bay Road Volunteer Fire Department | $0.10 |
Questions?
Email: info@invernesscounty.ca
Call: 1-866-258-0223, Option #5