Record water revenue
Drought in 2025 prompted jump in bulk water sales to farms and homes
It turns out that selling water during a drought is a good business.
Trent Hills councillors were a bit surprised this week to discover just how good.
Last year due to hot weather and little rain, the municipality earned $139,000 from bulk water sales to farmers and homeowners who rely on wells, council was told.
The municipality sells bulk water in Hastings and Campbellford using a system that requires customers to sign up online and get digital access to the system which charges their account.
The record revenue in 2025 was up 75 per cent from $79,250 in 2024 and was 59 per cent higher than the $87,405 earned in 2023.
Chief Administrative Officer Karen Frigault said the municipality had to make one change last year. In the past it provided a large-diameter hose that customers could use to fill their trucks or containers.
But vehicles kept running over the hose forcing staff to make repairs or replace the damaged hose, sometimes several times a day.
One angry customer stormed into the municipal office yelling that he didn’t want to have to pay for any water that leaked out.
So, the town now requires customers to provide their own hoses.
Some customers have complained about the cost of purchasing a hose, Frigault said.
The system was introduced in 2020 and allows customers to get water 24/7. “Customers must prepay and maintain a balance in their account to purchase water,” explained a report to council.
Council agreed to renew the contract to pay $8,100 a year to Flowpoint Environmental Systems for the service.
Council pay in 2025
In 2025, Mayor Bob Crate was paid $43,755 in salary and expenses by Trent Hills and $31,600 by Northumberland County where he was a councillor, according to recent reports to the county and municipal councils.
Crate was paid $23,600 as a county councillor last year. This year he is warden and will receive $58,000 for that job. He was paid $39,217 as mayor.
Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf received $39,260 in pay and expenses, with a base salary of $29,346. He also received $3,526 as chair of the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority.
Other councillors received a base pay of $24,395. Including expenses they received: Gene Brahaney, $29,534; Rick English, $31,423; Daniel Giddings, $31,190; Robert Pope, $30,169; and Dennis Savery, $31,826.
Northumberland County is currently considering whether to allow councillors to be eligible for pensions or registered retirement savings plans. The issue is expected to come back to council in April.