The City of St. Catharines uses the Water Meter Replacement Program to install and maintain water meters on properties throughout the city. We change meters every 15 years when they reach the end of their lifespan.
Water meter replacements
Staff will contact you to schedule an appointment and perform water meter replacements for all commercial and industrial water customers in the city when meters are due.
Appointment safety guidelines
Please follow these safety guidelines when expecting an appointment:
- Ensure you have provided clear access to the water meter. City employees cannot move personal property.
- Restrain pets inside your home.
- Place material down to protect floors. City employees cannot remove their boots.
Automated water meter reader installations
The City is installing new, automated water meter readers across all meters in St. Catharines. These new readers automatically record and store your water consumption information and transmit it directly to our billing system. Once the meter is installed, you no longer need to manually read the meter and submit readings.
Information transmission process
Staff drive along the street and obtain water meter readings through a dedicated, safe radio frequency. They pick up the automated readers' information through built-in transmitters and GPS coordinates. Meters only transmit information upon request and only the meter's register number and water consumption information is taken.
This process is easier for residents and the reader's more frequent readings can help find potential problems in advance, such as leaking taps or toilets.
When your meter will be upgraded
We upgrade water meters throughout the city based on city sections. Since it is a multi-year program, it could be many months or years before your meter is scheduled to be upgraded.
Upgrade process
When your meter is scheduled to be upgraded, you will receive a letter detailing your next steps.
After receiving the letter, please contact our Citizen's First at 905-688-5600 to arrange an appointment for your upgrade. The upgrade normally takes 30 minutes to complete.
Please follow the same safety guidelines listed on this page during appointments and ensure an adult (18 years or older) is present during installation to provide access and sign-off on the work.
The City will still need to manually inspect meters from time to time in the home after your upgrade takes place.
Radio frequency and safety
The new automated meter readers use wireless technology to collect water consumption, diagnostic and status data from the City's water meters. They transfer this data to a database for billing, troubleshooting and analysis.
The battery-operated transmitter is wired directly to the water meter inside the home, and it wirelessly communicates with mobile reading equipment installed in our meter reading vehicles. The transmitter only sends wireless signals when requested; three times per year for our regular billing period. All wireless devices are tested to comply with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's health and safety guidelines.
The automated readers operate in the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada-licensed 900 MHz spectrum (the same spectrum as a garage door remote, cordless phone or baby monitor). Each transmission lasts for one-eighth of a second at a power level of under two watts.
Costs
There is no cost to have the automated reader installed as part of our installation program. However, you can request an automated reader to be installed ahead of schedule at the owner's expense. Contact us at 905.688.5600 or water@stcatharines.ca for details.