FAQs

Water meters are important tools that help

Help Detect and Resolve Leaks within the System. Leaks can waste large amounts of treated drinking water and meters will help us identify where and when these occur, so we can repair them. 

Reduce Water Demand & Encourage Water Conservation. Meters improve residents awareness of their water use. Allowing residents to track how much water the use can enable informed decisions of how to use water. High water consumption causes more wear and tear on the operating system, which can reduce the lifetime of the equipment. Reduced water demand can extend the life of our existing infrastructure. 

Make Utility Billing More Equitable. Currently residents pay flat-rate billing for water, so everyone pays the same, regardless of use. Water meters allow volumetric billing to be implemented so residents pay based on the amount of water they use. 

The installation of water meters is mandatory for:

• All single-family residential properties 
• Multi-family residential and 
• Industrial/commercial/institutional

You likely do not need to do anything. If your meter is older and is identified as requiring replacement you will be contacted to arrange for meter replacement.

The City of Revelstoke has secured $4.6 million in grant funding from the British Columbia Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs. There is no direct cost to residents anticipated for this work.

This will be property dependent. Properties with larger service sizes will require a pre-installation inspection to confirm the required meter size. If this is required at your property, it will be identified during the installation appointment process.  

For now, it won't. Once water meters are installed and the City has completed a Utility Rates Study, new water metering rates will be set that utilize volumetric billing. This means you'll only pay for the amount of water you use.  

Volumetric billing will not be implemented right away. Once water meters are installed, we will operate our water system for at least one year with our regular fee system as we make the transition. During the transition you will be provided with a mock bill that will show you what you can expect to pay once we move to volumetric billing.

Households will have time to understand their consumption patterns and adjust before we start volumetric billing. This transition period will allow the City to collect important data on water usage, ensuring that property owners are charged accurately and equitably. Actual water meter billing is anticipated to begin in the second year after water meter installation. 

Keep an eye out in the mail for information coming from Neptune Technology Group. They will be sending out letters with information on how to book your installation appointment.

The person who receives and pays the utility bill.

Most properties will have the meter installed inside the home. Meters are typically installed in basements or utility rooms, alongside your existing utilities. Neptune Technology Group Canada will be installing the meters and will reach out to you to setup an installation appointment.

No.

The program will be implemented area-by-area. Check back here for an installation progress map.

Yes. An adult at least 18 years of age must be home at all times during the installation.  

Every authorized Neptune technician is uniformed and carries identification, including name, picture and ID number.  

Anywhere from 30-90 minutes.

The City will read your meter via a remote Automated Monitoring Infrastructure system. Your meter will read in cubic meters. The meter and new software will allow the City to gather data and charge you accordingly to your usage.

Once meters are installed the City will transition from flat-rate billing for water use to volumetric based billing. Exactly what those volumetric based rates will be, we don't know yet. Once installation is underway, we can undertake a Utility Rates Study to determine what appropriate metering rates will look like.  

The City of Revelstoke is responsible for any future maintenance to the meter, provided you take reasonable caution to prevent any damage to the meter. Like your gas or electric meter, it is illegal to tamper with the meter.  

No. Neptune Technology Group has installed over 4 million of the same water meter units throughout North America (including over 70 communities across Canada). The water meters selected for installation comply with regulatory standards for safety under the American Water Works Association. They do not pose health risks and are designed to protect customer data and safety.