Modernization of Water Meter Infrastructure in Halton

This depends on the age and compatibility of your water meter. A transmitter may be installed alone or as part of a water meter replacement.

Homes and businesses will be scheduled to receive the new technology by Municipality and Ward as communities become ready to receive AMI transmitters. It will take approximately 3 years to complete work at all homes and businesses in Halton.

No, the Region will contact you when we are ready to install new meter technology at your property.

If you are selected to be an early adopter, you will receive a formal letter from Halton Region in late 2023 or early 2024. A sample copy of this letter will be posted to this webpage for reference prior to notices being mailed to homes and businesses. If you receive a suspicious message about AMI or need further information, please email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311.

Halton’s AMI system includes data collector units (receiver antennae) installed across the region, as well as radio transmitters installed on water meters.

The antenna sites are located on existing Region-operated properties. These locations:

• provide full coverage of the entire community;
• connect directly to the Halton’s Wide Area Network to keep the data secure;
• minimize costs for ratepayers by eliminating the need for additional land; and
• ensure easy access for maintenance.

All antenna installations are safe and meet the rigorous health and safety standards set by the Federal Government.

The new meter technology will encrypt your water usage information before sending it to a network of receivers that collect your data. This ensures that all data remains safe and secure. No personal information, such as your name or address, is included; only the meter read and the meter and transmitter numbers are provided. This information will be paired with your billing account information to create your water billing.

All personal information collected by the local hydro company will be used to administer water billing. Water billing activities include sending you utility bills, notices of rate changes and/or discontinuation of services, and disclosure of water account information to registered property owners or collections agencies where the water account is in arrears. The collection of your information is in accordance with sections 11 and 398 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25 and section 39.2 of the Regional Municipality of Halton’s By-law No. 71-19. Questions about the collection of your personal information can be directed to your local utility provider or by calling 311 and asking to speak with Finance.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)(external link) has approved and licensed all AMI equipment installed in Halton Region. This includes the data collector units, which fully comply with ISED standards and guidelines for environmental exposure to radio frequency. The units also meet standards set by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (external link). The equipment must continue to comply with these limits at all times to maintain the ISED license.

In addition, Halton’s AMI equipment meets Health Canada's Safety Code 6 (external link), which sets limits for safe human exposure to radio frequency energy. This means it is safe for anyone – including small children – to live, work and play near any piece of AMI technology for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Health Canada closely monitors new research on radio frequency and revises its recommendations as needed to protect residents. It also ensures exposure limits are consistent with science-based limits used in other parts of the world, such as the United States, the European Union, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

AMI transmissions take less than one second and are much weaker than those from other common devices, such as microwaves, WIFI routers or cell phones. The technology is safe, similar to electricity meter transmitters and meets all Health Canada guidelines for radio frequency exposure limits.

For more information, please visit:

• Government of Canada - Case Study: Measurements of Radio Frequency Exposure from Wi-Fi Devices (external link)
• Government of Canada - Radiofrequency Energy and Safety (external link)