01
Executive overview
Key findings
C$164.6 million: total capital spending plan for 2026/27, including C$46.9 million of previously approved projects (budget)
C$293.0 million: long-term debt at March 31, 2025, up from C$236.5 million a year earlier (actual)
263 litres: leakage per service connection per day in FY 2024/25, against a target of 165 (actual)
86%: customer satisfaction with service in FY 2025/26, against a 95% target and 97% in FY 2022/23 (actual)
02
Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Utility board members and executives
Compare Halifax Water's resilience, quality-management and asset-data programs with their own reform agenda after service failures.
Regulators and municipal finance staff
Follow how the 2025 rate order, the September 2026 rate application and the development charge hearing tie Halifax Water's capital plan to rates and debt.
Engineering, technology and delivery firms
See where the C$164.6 million 2026/27 capital plan goes, including C$21.1 million for information and technology and the early-stage Water Supply Enhancement Program.
Climate and water resource planners
Use the 2025 drought record at Lake Major and the safe yield and adaptive planning work to judge supply headroom.
03
Decision scope
Questions answered
How fast is Halifax Water's debt growing?
Long-term debt rose from C$236.5 million to C$293.0 million in FY 2024/25, and the 2026/27 budget adds C$90.0 million of new debt at 4.0%.
What did the 2025 drought require?
Mandatory restrictions for Lake Major customers ran from September 10 to November 12, 2025, and overall consumption was down 9% by October 4.
What rate increases has Halifax Water asked for next?
The application filed on September 29, 2026 seeks average residential bill increases of 8.4% from April 1, 2027 and 8.2% from April 1, 2028.
How much is going into technology?
The 2026/27 plan allocates C$21.1 million of capital to information and technology, and the I&T operating budget rises 18.08% to C$19.6 million.
04
Inside the report
Inside the complete report
Executive Snapshot
1. From Service Provider to System Operator
2. System Intelligence and Digital Control
3. Energy, Carbon, and Resource Decoupling
4. Infrastructure Strategy for a Non-Stationary Climate
5. Customers, Demand, and the Water Prosumer
6. Governance, Regulation, and Institutional Reform
7. Capital Planning and Financial Architecture
8. Workforce, Capability, and Organisational Change
9. Strategic System Roadmap
Conclusion
Source Register
05
Public preview
What to watch next
4. Infrastructure Strategy for a Non-Stationary Climate
The delivery and procurement model chosen for the Water Supply Enhancement Program and Mill Cove; safe yield results; the adaptive supply planning framework; Lake Major levels in the 2026 and 2027 dry seasons.
6. Governance, Regulation, and Institutional Reform
The NSRAB's decision on the September 2026 rate application; the regional development charge hearing from December 7, 2026; the Carollo operations audit report; wastewater compliance results.
7. Capital Planning and Financial Architecture
The FY 2026/27 regulatory-basis result against the budgeted C$1.4 million surplus; the debt service ratio as new debt is issued; the decision on the September 2026 rate application; external funding for the Water Supply Enhancement Program and Mill Cove.
9. Strategic System Roadmap
The scope and assumptions of the next IRP; the decision on the September 2026 rate application; completion of the boil water advisory corrective actions.
Section 4: the 2025 drought measures at Lake Major and the 2026/27 climate and supply program.
06
Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 16 pages, 12 sections, 21 tables and a register of 29 sources.
This edition
October 2026, First edition.
07
Evidence & method
Evidence and method
The report draws on Halifax Water's annual and accountability reports from FY 2015/16 to FY 2025/26, its 2026/27 Annual Business Plan and capital budget, and its five-year strategy. It also uses rate applications and NSRAB decisions, the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, after-incident reviews and HRM Auditor General audits.
Sources
29 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 31 October 2026. Principal data periods: FY 2024/25 audited results and FY 2025/26 accountability results (fiscal years end March 31); 2026/27 Annual Business Plan and capital budget; rates effective January 1 and April 1, 2026. All currency is Canadian dollars (C$)..
Evidence boundaries
This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.
08
Lead analyst
Robert C. Brears
Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence
Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.
- Decision-focused utility intelligence
- Published water-policy author
- Evidence-grounded system analysis
09
Buyer FAQs
Before you purchase
Who can use the report?
Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.
How is the report delivered?
The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.
Can my organization buy wider access?
Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.
10
Water Utility of the Future: Halifax Water
- Format
- Length
- 16 pages
- Edition
- October 2026, First edition
- Price
- USD 499
11
Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- Water Utility Intelligence Report
- Edition
- October 2026, First edition
- Format
- Length
- 16 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_WATER_UTILITY_OF_THE_FUTURE_HALIFAX_WATER_b9a980ff8aa9
- Evidence current to
- 31 October 2026
14
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