Halifax Water

Profile narrative

Halifax Water provides drinking water, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management services to the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia. The utility draws raw water from protected source lakes such as Pockwock and Lake Major, treats it at modern filtration plants, and distributes it through an extensive network of pipes. Used water is collected via a separate sewer system, conveyed to treatment facilities where it undergoes physical, biological, and chemical processes before being discharged safely. Stormwater runoff is managed through a combination of green infrastructure, detention ponds, and pipe networks designed to reduce flooding and protect water bodies.

Halifax Water serves a diverse customer base that includes residential households, commercial enterprises, institutional campuses, and industrial operations across the municipality. The utility maintains thousands of kilometres of water mains and sewer lines, along with numerous pumping stations, reservoirs, and treatment plants that together support continuous service delivery. Its service area covers the urban core of Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, and surrounding suburban communities, reaching a population that exceeds several hundred thousand residents. By operating year‑round and adhering to strict provincial standards, the utility ensures reliable access to safe drinking water and effective wastewater management for all users.

As a municipal utility, Halifax Water is owned by the Halifax Regional Municipality and operates under the oversight of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, which sets rates and monitors compliance with provincial legislation. The organization places a strong emphasis on source water protection, implementing watershed management plans that limit development and pollution risks around its supply lakes. Halifax Water has been recognized for its environmental stewardship, receiving awards for initiatives such as energy‑efficient treatment processes, renewable energy integration, and innovative stormwater green infrastructure projects. Its operational approach includes climate‑resilience planning, aiming to adapt infrastructure to changing precipitation patterns and sea‑level rise challenges faced by the Atlantic region.

Governance is carried out by a board of commissioners appointed by the municipal council, which provides strategic direction while day‑to‑day management is handled by an executive team led by a general manager. The utility finances its operations through user rates, municipal contributions, and occasional provincial or federal funding for specific capital projects. In May 2023, Halifax Water disclosed that a cybersecurity incident involving the MOVEit file transfer tool compromised the names and account numbers of approximately 25,000 customers, highlighting the growing importance of robust information security controls. The breach was part of a broader provincial incident that affected numerous other organizations, prompting Halifax Water to enhance its cybersecurity posture and notify affected individuals in accordance with privacy legislation. Despite this challenge, the utility continues to deliver its core water and wastewater services while working to strengthen data protection measures across its operations.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.