The City of Regina will soon begin installing new water meters throughout the city in a major upgrade project. The new system will collect faster, near real-time information about water consumption which enables customers to manage and conserve water use, as well as help detect water leaks.
“Most of the City’s current water meters are reaching the end of their lifecycle. This presents an opportunity to upgrade to more efficient infrastructure that will enhance the service customers receive,” says Kurtis Doney, Director of Water, Waste & Environment. “There is no charge for the new water meter installation. This upgrade project has been forecasted since the first system was originally installed and built into the City’s 25-year utility plan.”
The new technology promotes environmental sustainability by eliminating the need for the meter reading vehicles that are currently used to collect drive-by meter reads. This will result in a reduction of approximately 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year.
Installation Process
Neptune Technology Group has been contracted to install meters on behalf of the City over the next three years. Starting in October 2022, work will take place systematically, ward by ward. As Neptune progresses into a new ward, customers will receive a booklet in the mail to let them know that it is time to book a meter upgrade appointment.
The technician will upgrade the water meter inside the property and install a radio transmitter on the outside of the home/business.
Upcoming Online Services
In 2023, after a significant number of properties have had their water meters upgraded, the City will introduce a new online service for water utility customers to access account information. The online service will replace the current Utility eBill and offer many benefits, including:
- Enhanced water consumption information that can help customers conserve and manage water use
- Improved customer support from City staff who will be able to see water use in near real-time
- Leak detection that could help customers save water and money
- More timely meter reads
- Electronic notifications about planned water outages
This new system will also help the City increase efficiency and improve operations through the ability to investigate, diagnose and solve water distribution problems, as well as provide more insight into customer water use. Rollout of the new online service will be communicated in early 2023.
Regina’s Water Utility operates on a full cost-recovery basis to ensure Regina residents enjoy safe and reliable water, wastewater, and stormwater services. The project is expected to cost approximately $42.5M, over a five-year period.
Visit Regina.ca/watermeter for information.
