Communal Water and Wastewater Services in Central Frontenac

Public information session

Thank you to everyone that was able to join us for the public information session on May 8, 2025, to learn about communal water and wastewater systems and discuss how they might be used in Central Frontenac in the future. A recording of the information session is posted on YouTube and can be accessed at this link: Communal Services Info Session.

As part of the next steps for this project, staff will be preparing draft policies for the Township's Official Plan, outlining how communal services could be used. When ready, these draft policies will be presented to the public for review and comment. If you haven't already provided your contact information to the Township/County and would like to be informed about future updates on this project, you can make that request by emailing planning@frontenaccounty.ca.

Background Information

Communal services approaches and technologies are shared drinking water and sewage systems that provide water and wastewater treatment to clusters of residences and businesses. The approach is also sometimes referred to as "decentralized systems". While operating on the same basic principles as conventional large-scale municipal services, communal water and wastewater systems are not connected to a single central facility. Instead, ‘right-sized’ facilities treat water and wastewater close to where it is needed or created. Communal services can be less expensive than centralized municipal services and reduce the need to pipe water or wastewater over long distances. They are also more environmentally-friendly than private on-site services (i.e., well and septic).

Communal services can provide numerous community benefits and opportunities:

• New development on smaller lot sizes that are a better ‘fit’ into the existing fabric of a village or hamlet;

• Developments within villages or hamlets that are dense enough to promote walkability and the efficient use of other municipal services and infrastructure;

• More housing within walking distance of main streets and commercial cores, to assist in strengthening the local economy;

• Infilling and redevelopment along main streets, to promote vibrant community hubs;

• Commercial or industrial development and the possible creation of business parks;

• Development of a broader range of housing types, such as townhouses and small apartments to support aging in place;

• Increased opportunities for mixed-use development, and for home-based businesses; and

• Rural and waterfront development that protects the Township's water quality and natural heritage.

The County of Frontenac has spent the last nine years researching and reviewing the use of communal services and has determined that the technology is a viable option for future growth, provided the systems are properly maintained and operated. To that end, the County and its four partner townships have created Frontenac Municipal Services - a regional public utility that will own and operate these systems. In addition to the benefits provided by communal services to community development and environmental protection, the use of the public utility means that there won't be a financial risk to the individual municipalities. The developer will be responsible for installing the systems, which will be turned over to the public utility to manage and operate.

For more information on communal services, and to see all the background work done by the County of Frontenac, please visit: EngageFrontenac.ca/communal-services.