Water Department

Customers are required to fill out and submit the below form to the Water Department in order to begin their Water/Sewer Service. Garbage Service payment is also included on the Water/Sewer bill.

City Water/ Sewer bills can be paid via a payment drop box that is located outside City Hall in the west parking lot. Bills may also be paid online via the Pay Online page. Automated Direct Debit Payments can be set up as well, by filling out the form at the link below and submitting it to the Water Department.

The city is asking for help in identifying individual water service line material. Below are directions on how you can identify your water service line yourself and submit your information on the survey. 

How to identify your water service line material: 
Prior to completing the online survey property owners are asked to follow a few simple steps.  

Step 1
Find the water meter on your property located likely in your basement or utility closet.

Step 2 
Look for the pipe that comes through the outside wall of your home and connects to your meter. If the pipe is painted use sandpaper or a key to expose the metal. Determine your pipe material. (See pipe material identifying characteristics below.)

Step 3 
Look for the pipe that comes out of your meter that provides the service to your home. If the pipe is painted use sandpaper or a key to expose the metal. Determine your pipe material. (See pipe material identifying characteristics.)

Step 4 (optional) 
Take a picture of the water meter that includes the service line entering the home and the service line exiting the meter. This is to help the City better verify the pipe material. 

Step 5 
Fill out the ONLINE SURVEY HERE. 

Pipe Material Identifying Characteristics: 
If unable to visually determine the material type, hold a magnet against the pipe. 

1. A plastic pipe should be easy to identify and can be different colors. I will not attract a magnet. 

2. Scraping a copper pipe will reveal a shiny “new penny” color and the pipe will not attract a magnet.

3. Scraping a galvanized steel pipe will reveal a silver/white color and the pipe will attract a magnet. 

4. Scraping a lead pipe will reveal a silver/white color and the pipe will not attract a magnet.  

Canton Lead Service Line Replacement

Construction of Lead Service Line Replacement to the City of Canton, various locations, is being financed by the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF).  The SRF program is administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and receives a portion of its money to fund these types of projects from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  This project includes replacement of lead water service lines.  Once complete, it will improve water quality for area residents in the City of Canton by having no lead water service pipe to residences.  SRF programs operate in each state to provide communities the resources necessary to build, maintain, and improve the infrastructure that protects one of our most valuable resources- water.

Residential customers requesting an adjustment to their bill for the purpose of filling a pool are required to have meter readings at the beginning and at the end of the pool filling period. This period can not exceed 72 hours. Meter readings provided after 72 hours from the initial meter read will not be accepted for an adjustment. There will be only one adjustment for pool filling per year.

Only pools which have a filtering cleaning mechanism will be allowed to receive an adjustment to their bill. The City will no longer make adjustments for pools that do not require a filter cleaning mechanism.

Water/sewer/garbage accounts must be current. If you have a past due balance, you will not receive an adjustment for the pool filling program.

For further information or questions regarding this service and policy, please contact the City`s water billing department at 309-647-0288

Potable (drinkable) water is for sale in bulk amount at the Canton Water Treatment Plant. This is a drive up, automated, self-serve station located on the west side of the treatment plant; that is available dawn to dusk. Patrons can fill their own containers and pay via debit or credit card. For any question call the Water Treatment Plant.

The City has two automatic fire hydrant flushing devices. These devices are small, red boxes that are applied to the side of a fire hydrant and automatically flush water from the hydrant several times a day. The devices rotate locations every Tuesday.

Hydrant flushing is the quick release of water from fire hydrants. It’s a controlled procedure that is vital to the general maintenance of the City’s water distribution system. It ensures adequate water flow is available to fire fighters, residents and businesses. It also helps maintain the City’s water clarity and quality by clearing iron and mineral deposits from the water mains (distribution pipes).  Sometimes hydrant flushing can make the water temporarily appear rust-colored because the iron and mineral deposits in the water get stirred up. Water is safe to use and consume during hydrant flushing.

If you have any questions about these devices, please call Water Superintendent Caleb Hale.

The City of Canton is pleased to present this year’s Annual Water Quality Report.  This report is designed to inform you about the quality of water and services we deliver to you every day.  Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.  We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and to protect our water sources. We are pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets state and federal requirements.

Please click below to view the current Water Quality Report in its entirety.