The city is planning on boosting the cost of turning on the taps when it announces new rates on Friday.
Shelley Carroll, Toronto's budget chief , told CTV Toronto on Thursday that even though the overall economic times are turning tougher, there is much to do with respects to the city's water system.
"Massive infrastructure renewal is needed," she said. "We still have lead water pipes downtown that we're changing out. We also have massive climate change and flood mitigation work to do."
The city is in year four of a nine-year plan to hike water rates by nine per cent per year for a nine-year period.
For garbage, annual fees remain unchanged will depend on the size of the container for your household, which is part of an effort to encourage residents to divert 70 per cent of their waste:
- Small - $10 rebate
- Medium - $39
- Large - $133
- Extra large - $190
Residents in single-family homes will start paying garbage fees on Nov. 1.
City council must approve any change to the rates.
The city has already enacted some controversial measures to boost its revenues, including the land transfer tax and vehicle registration tax.
Mayor David Miller has previously suggested the city's property taxes will be increased by two to four per cent.
Some councillors are crying foul, saying Toronto families can't cope with such increased costs when the economy is so uncertain.
"I know a lot of angry folks are looking at city hall saying: 'Where is all this coming from? And how am I going to pay for it all?'" said Coun. Denzil Minnan Wong.
He called on the city to cut its costs rather than tax families more.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Naomi Parness
