History

The Union Water Supply System (UWSS) is located in the south east quadrant of Essex County in Ontario. The system supplies treated water to the municipalities of Leamington, Kingsville and part of Essex and Lakeshore. It supplies water to a residential population of approximately 68,000 and a large number of commercial, industrial and agricultural customers. The business customers include several large food processors, and a large number of hydroponic greenhouses. The system is a corporation with shareholders from the municipalities of Leamington, Kingsville, Essex and Lakeshore.

The UWSS has its origins in an Area Water System set up by the Ontario Water Resources Commission in 1959. The system was owned and operated by the Province until 2001. Under “The Municipal Water & Sewage Transfer Act, 1997” the ownership of the common system was formally transferred from the Province to the four municipalities. The transfer of all assets was completed in January 2001. The governance of the common system was given to the Joint Board of Management (the “Board”) of the Union Water Supply System. As of February 2023, the system became incorporated and now is known as the Union Water Supply System Inc. and is controlled by a Board of Directors and managed by a CEO.

Each of the four municipalities nominates one or more municipal councillors to sit on the Board, as well as other professionals. The present Board has six Leamington representatives, four Kingsville representatives and one each from Essex and Lakeshore.