Meter installation on City property
There is minimal disruption when the installation is on City property. The water is shut off for about an hour the day of the installation. Before your water service is shut off, you will receive an additional notice.
The water meter will be installed on or near the property line. It will be placed in a small underground chamber and covered by a ground level lid that measures 45 centimetres x 30 centimetres.
Note Meters are typically installed on City property in accordance with our Waterworks By-law No.4848, Section 6.4.
Meters installed on private property
In some cases (retaining walls, sidewalks, tree roots, other obstructions) it will be impossible to install a meter on City property. Instead, a meter will be installed on private property according to By-law No.4848 PDF file (394 KB), Section 2.14.
The process, from digging the hole to restoring the landscape, is generally completed within a week.
There is no cost to you for the meter or the installation, and you are not required to be home during the process.
Some residents install sprinkler systems and other encroachments such as fence or retaining walls on the City boulevards adjacent to their properties. We do not:
- Approve of these encroachments on City property
- Issue permits or record the locations of these obstructions
Note You will need to remove any obstruction placed on City boulevard before your meter installation. During a meter installation, damage may occur to these items if they are not removed before installation. We do not accept any liability for costs to repair items that have been installed on City boulevards.
All homes are required to have a water meter
You cannot choose to defer or not have a water meter installed. All homes will eventually be switched to metered billing. This program falls under By-Law No.4848 PDF file (394 KB) Section 6.4 and is essential for billing. Any personal information collected for the purpose of account setup and meter billing is authorized by Sections 26(c) and 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Note Meters are installed on a predetermined schedule and installation dates cannot be moved forward or backward.