Water Metering Project
Background
The City of Revelstoke is introducing a Water Meter Program, supported by a provincial grant of $4,460,000.00 from the Government of British Columbia. This project will install water meters on residential, commercial and industrial properties connected to the City's water system. This project is about conserving water and using it more responsibly. In March 2025, Council approved applying for provincial funding and committed municipal funding to support the sustainable initiative.
Water meters help reduce both overall water use and peak demand, which is when water use is highest, typically during hot summer days. Lower peak demand helps protect the water supply and supports better planning for the future. With meters installed across the community, the City can better understand how water is used and identify water loss, such as leaks. This information helps improve system efficiency and reliability.
Water meters have been shown to encourage:
- Water Conservation,
- Reduce Water Demand,
- Make Utility Billing More Equitable,
- Help Detect and Resolve Leaks within the System,
- Enhance Water Planning, and
- Support Climate Change Resiliency.
Click HERE to read more about the City's Water Use and the Water Metering Plan.
How Do Water Meters Work?
A water meter is a simple device that measures how much water flows into your home or business. The easiest way to think of it is like a car odometer: instead of tracking how many kilometers you’ve driven, it keeps track of how much water you’ve used. As water passes through, the meter records the total volume amount and displays it in cubic meters. Water meters allow residents' utility charges will be calculated according to their measured water consumption.
Water meters and volume-based billing can lead to water savings in the distribution system through:
- End-user demand reductions,
- Leak reduction, and
- Reduction in water distribution system loss due to improved ability to identify and locate leaks.
What are the Benefits of Water Meters?
Benefits associated with water metering materialize from reduced water demand and improved water use billing and accounting.
The Advantages of Installing Water Meters include:
- Infrastructure Deferral
Reducing water use through universal metering can delay the need for expensive upgrades to water supply and treatment facilities. The Greeley Water Treatment Plant was originally expected to need upgrades around 2043. With higher recent water demand, upgrades could be needed as early as 2039. Implementing universal metering and reducing peak demand by 20% could delay the upgrade by eight or more years. While some projects, like the Golf Course Well or the Greely Creek transmission main, will still need upgrades for safety or aging infrastructure, metering helps postpone expansions driven by population growth and high water use, providing both cost savings and improved water supply reliability.
- Reduced Leakage and Improved Non-Revenue Water Management
Universal water metering helps the City identify and control leaks and other water losses. By accurately measuring water use, the City can target repairs, manage system pressure, and reduce non-revenue water. Over time, this improves system efficiency, lowers emergency repair costs, and helps maintain reliable service for residents. - Risk Mitigation Against Drought or Supply Interruption
Water metering helps the City reduce demand, leaving more water available during droughts or emergencies. This improves reliability of the Greeley Creek supply, supports firefighting and other critical needs, and provides a buffer if key infrastructure fails. Metering also benefits the environment by keeping more water in streams and supporting healthy aquatic ecosystems. - Improved Water Utility Management
Universal metering gives the City detailed insight into how water is used across the system. This helps operators plan maintenance, schedule upgrades, improve efficiency, and make informed decisions about infrastructure investments, while controlling costs and ensuring reliable service. - Greater Fairness for Residents
Water metering allows billing based on actual usage, so residents who conserve pay less and those who use more pay their fair share. This encourages efficiency and gives households control over their water costs. - Impact on Wastewater System Flows
Universal water metering can reduce overall water use, which in turn lowers the amount of water entering the sewer system. This can help reduce treatment costs, free up capacity for future growth, and potentially delay or downsize costly upgrades to the wastewater system.
What to Expect
Implementation of a water metering program is a key part of the City of Revelstoke's water conservation efforts. The initiative supports City Council's Strategic Priorities of A Sustainable Community and Enhanced Service Delivery by advancing water conservation, preserving natural assets and supporting responsible infrastructure investment.
The City has partnered with Neptune Technology Group Canada to support the installation of water meters. The installation will be completed in area-by-area phases, beginning in Summer 2026. In the lead-up to installations, residents and businesses will be contacted by Neptune on behalf of the City with details about the installation schedule and how to book your installation appointment. The time required to install a residential meter ranges from 30-90 minutes, during which time your water will be shut off for a brief period.
The project will not result in immediate changes to how water is billed. Once meters have been installed and the City has undertaken a Utility Rates Study, a mock billing system will be implemented so residents can understand what their rates will be under the new volume-based billing system.
Questions & Answers
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Why are water meters being installed?
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.
Do I have to get a water meter installed on my property? Can I opt out of the installation?
The installation of water meters is mandatory for:
- All single-family residential properties
- Multi-family residential and
- Industrial/commercial/institutional
I already have a meter. Do I need to do anything? Will anything change?
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.
How much does the meter and installation cost?
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.
How will Industrial, commercial and institutional properties be handled differently to residential properties?
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.
How will this impact my water bill?
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.
When will my water bill change?
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.
ABOUT THE INSTALLATION PROCESS
What do property owners need to do?
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.
Who is responsible for booking the appointment - the landlord or tenant?
The person who receives and pays the utility bill.
Where will the meter be installed on my property?
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.
Can I install the water meter myself?
No.
When will the water meter be installed?
The program will be implemented area-by-area. Check back here for an installation progress map.
Do I need to be home during the installation?
Yes. An adult at least 18 years of age must be home at all times during the installation.
How do I know the technician is an authorized agent to install the meter?
Every authorized Neptune technician is uniformed and carries identification, including name, picture and ID number.
How long will my water be shut off for?
Anywhere from 30-90minutes.
AFTER THE INSTALLATION
How do I read my meter?
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.
What rate will I pay for metered water once my meter is installed?
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.
Who is responsible for maintaining the meter?
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.
Are there any health or privacy concerns with the water meters or remote readers?
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 heath risks and are designed to protect customer data and safety.
Is there a question you have that we didn't answer? Please email engineering@revelstoke.ca and we'll update these FAQ's accordingly.
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