Single/Dual Family Residential Water Metering Policy
Frequently asked questions
- What is the new water meter policy approved by Council on December 15, 2011?
- Do any other municipalities in Metro Vancouver require water meters?
- Why has the City expanded the water meter requirement to single family and duplex home connections?
- How do water meters help conserve water?
- How are the water rates set?
- Will the new water meter requirement apply only to new homes?
- How much will it cost?
- Will water services for commercial, industrial and institutional properties include water meters, as well?
- Where will the meter be installed and what will the water meter look like?
- Who will install the meter?
- Will a water meter affect the water pressure in the house?
- What will my bill look like?
- Why are some customers paying increased seasonal rates?
- I have an existing home and have no plans to renovate or rebuild. What are my options to have a water meter installed on my property?
1. What is the new water meter policy approved by Council on December 15, 2011?
Beginning January 2, 2012, water meters will be mandatory on all new water services for single and dual family homes. On average, 1000 people a year apply for a new water service as a result of new home construction or renovations that require additional water capacity, such as for the addition of a laneway house.
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2. Do any other municipalities in Metro Vancouver require water meters?
Other municipalities in the Lower Mainland have adopted this method of equitable billing and water conservation in recent years. West Vancouver and Abbotsford have water meters on all their connections while Richmond and Surrey have just over half of single-family homes on a water meter.
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3. Why has the City expanded the water meter requirement to single family and duplex home connections?
Expanding the metering requirement to new water services for single family and duplex homes is the first step in achieving a fully metered system over the long term as currently all other water consumers, including industrial, institutional, commercial and multi-family residential customers are metered.
Aside from the benefit of billing equity (i.e., paying only for what you use), metering is the foundational step in extending the life of our current water resources by deferring the costs and environmental impacts of raising the dams on our reservoirs or having to develop another drinking water source.
Other benefits of metering single family and duplex water connections include:
- Achieving up to 20% reduction in water use through changes in consumer behaviour and help in identifying system leaks
- Results in savings for those who consume wisely
- Reduces the stress on the City and region’s systems by reducing peak summer demand for water and, at the other end, reduces stress on our sanitary sewer system
- Providing personalized consumption information to customers on their bill
- Overall consumption information would help the City identify areas for targeted water conservation programs
- Collecting system data that aids in planning future system investments
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4. How do water meters help conserve water?
Water meters help people to become more aware about their water use. When people are charged for their actual measured use, they tend not to waste water, and they reduce their overall water consumption. Metering immediately rewards customers who use water efficiently and provides a price signal for those who don’t. Another benefit to water meters is that they help identify leaks. Leaks can constitute a significant portion of a city’s water consumption – a leaky or self-flushing toilet can waste 750 litres of drinking water per day according to the EPA. That is equivalent to wasting over $270 per year. Eliminating leaks benefits everyone, including your wallet!
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5. How are the water rates set?
Water rates are calculated so that an average water user will pay equal to or less than the current flat rate. This will allow customers who use water efficiently to see savings immediately. Alternately, it will provide an incentive for high volume users to conserve water.
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6. Will the new water meter requirement apply only to new homes?
No, all new water services applied for after January 1, 2012, for any reason, will include a water meter as part of the installation.
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7. How much will it cost?
There will be a one-time $500 increase to the flat rate charge for water service to a single/dual family zoned lot.
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8. Will water services for commercial, industrial and institutional properties include water meters, as well?
Water meters are already required for all commercial, industrial and institutional water connections.
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9. Where will the meter be installed and what will the water meter look like?
Meters will be installed in line with water service, typically 1m (3.3ft) underground. Access to the meter would be through a PVC meter box that will be installed flush to the surrounding landscaping. To enable future access for maintenance, the City requires that no landscaping other than ground cover be installed within 1m (3.3 ft) of the box, and 2m (6.6 ft) above.
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10. Who will install the meter?
Water meters will be installed by City crews at the same time the water, sanitary and storm sewer connections are made.
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11. Will a water meter affect the water pressure in the house?
No, there will be no noticeable drop in pressure associated with the water meter.
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12. What will my bill look like?
You will receive a water bill every 3 months. It will consist of a basic charge to cover costs of billing, meter maintenance, future replacement and a volumetric charge based on the amount of water used during the 3 month period.
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13. Why are some customers paying increased seasonal rates?
Seasonal rates now apply during the months of June to October to all metered residential and commercial classes to reflect higher delivery costs in this high demand period.
A seasonal rate structure will put strategic pressure on summertime water use when regional storage and transmission are most stressed.
High summer water consumption drives the need for regional water supply upgrades such as new transmission mains and source development. Deferring these costly projects is the primary incentive to reduce local water consumption.
This rate structure also aligns with Metro Vancouver’s seasonal rate structure applied to our bulk water purchases.
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14. I have an existing home and have no plans to renovate or rebuild. What are my options to have a water meter installed on my property?
In spring of 2012, the City will be studying various programs and policies to allow the City to meet our water use reduction targets. It is expected that the details regarding a voluntary water metering program for existing single and dual family properties to be released later this year.
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