Water meters are an important part of your home's water system. A water meter records the amount of water used in your home so that you only pay for the water you use. It is required for all property owners to have a water meter installed.

What is a water meter?

A water meter is a device that records how much water your household uses. The water meter is typically located in your basement, near the main water shut-off valve, where the water service line comes into your home. 

The water meter is connected to a meter reading device, located on the outside of your home, that displays your water consumption and sends it to your utility provider. This information is then used to generate your monthly utility bill.

Water use is measured in cubic meters (m³). Water meters typically have flow indicators on the meter face to show water usage. You can use this flow indicator to troubleshoot possible leaks on your property. If your flow indicator is moving, and everything that uses water in your house is turned off, you have a leak somewhere. 

Water meter upgrade program

Strathcona County Utilities is upgrading water meters across the County to replace aging equipment and deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology. The new AMI water meters will reduce the need for estimates of water use, streamline meter reading, and allow for earlier detection of unusual water usage which could be a sign of a leak.

KTI Utility Services has been contracted to complete this work. If your meter is due to be upgraded you will receive a letter (216.9 KB) asking you to book an appointment to schedule the meter installation. Most installations take 30 - 60 minutes and may require a brief water interruption.

Appointments are available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no cost to you for the upgrade.

If you have questions about your meter upgrade you can reach out to KTI Utility Services at 1-587-848-5929.

Reading your water meter

Start with the number on the left. Reading your meter is like reading the odometer of your car, except that it measures cubic meters (m³) of water instead of miles. Your meter might look slightly different, but all meters work in the same general way. 

Water meters are very accurate. All meters are calibrated and tested in the factory before they are shipped. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) only allow for an error rate of 1.5 percent.

As they age, water meters can slow down and can stop registering completely, but they cannot run faster. The mechanical parts of a water meter are not capable of speeding up to register a significantly higher reading than your actual consumption.

Keep is a clear path to your water meter

Make sure there is a clear path to the remote reading device for your water meter. Keeping a path clear of snow, lawn furniture, toys, hoses etc. will ensure the meter reader can get to your reading device to get consistent water readings.

The reading device for your water meter is a small black box, generally located beside your gas or power meter. Most are located at the side of houses, but some may be located at the back of the house, over a deck or flower garden.

Water leaks and conservation

A high meter reading indicates an unknown change in water use. Sometimes it may be due to the household using more water than usual such as filling a swimming pool or hot tub in the summer. An unusually high water reading can also be caused by a leak.  

To see if you have a leak in your home: 

1. Locate your water meter. You will most likely find it in the basement near the furnace or hot water tank.  

2. Before you go to bed for the night, ensure that there is no water running. Remember that a furnace mounted humidifier will use water overnight, so turn if off as well. 

3. Take a reading of your water meter before you go to bed and another first thing in the morning. Compare the results to see if any water was lost during the night. If there is no water running in your house and the red dial is moving, you have a leak. 

Looking for common water leaks: 

• Check under your sink(s) 

• Check your dishwasher, especially the hose connection

• Check your washing machine, especially the hose connection and door gasket

• Check your toilet for leaks by placing a few drops of dye in the tank and seeing if it shows up in the bowl. If it does, you have a leak. 

• Check your irrigation system for leaks by looking for dark, wet spots in your landscaping. 

• Check your outdoor faucets and hose bibs for leaks. 

Plumbing leaks are not limited to faucets and toilets. Depending on the age of your house, high water use may be caused by underground plumbing leaks that you can’t readily see. If you see your meter ticking over with all the water in the house turned off you should contact a plumber to help you locate this type of leak. 

Even a small leak can waste a lot of water. 

• A hole in a pipe that’s 1/16” can waste 280,000L (280 m³) of water in 3 months. 

• A hole in a pipe that’s ¼” can waste in 4,475,000L (4,475 m³) of water in 3 months. 

You can learn more leak fixing tips and water conservation measures.

Installing a water meter

When constructing a new property, you will need to ensure a water meter installed. Once the final plumbing inspection is complete and you are ready to connect to Strathcona County’s water system you will need to schedule a meter installation appointment. Strathcona County Utilities installs both a meter inside the home, as well as a meter reader on the exterior.

Check our our  Water meter install process and requirements (1.2 MB) brochure for full details.

As part of the residential meter installation process the builder is responsible for installing stranded, 22 gauge, 3-conductor wire from the meter or meter spacer to an exterior location on the side of the building, where the County can install a remote water meter reader.

For residential buildings the meter setting requires 12" of spacing between 3/4" pipe connections for the meter to fit correctly. (Commercial buildings are required to submit a meter sizing request to Utilities.)

The owner of a property must contact the County to grant access to install the water meter for a unit or building within one week of occupancy of the unit or building.