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Modernization of Water Meter Infrastructure in Halton

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Page Summary

In 2024, Halton Region will begin improvements to our water meter infrastructure. The new water meter technology will give you access to more information about your water usage. This page explains how the new water meter technology works and provides a schedule of when we will be coming to your community. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions and sign up to receive emails about the project.

Sign up for updates about the new meter upgrades

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Water meter upgrades

The water meter on your property measures how much water you use. Currently, a meter reader visits your property in person to get monthly or bi-monthly readings through a touch pad located outside your home or business. These water meter readings are then used by your local hydro provider to calculate your water bill.

Over the next three years, Halton is moving away from manual (in person) water meter reading to a remote meter reading system called Advanced Metering Infrastructure (or AMI). This secure, modern and reliable technology is already in use in many communities across Ontario and throughout North America. The new technology will modernize the water meter infrastructure in Halton and make the collection of water meter readings more efficient.

When will this upgrade happen?

Timeline

  • Early 2024

    Burlington – installation of new technology at 300 homes and businesses. If you are part of this first group, you will receive a letter with information and instructions.

  • Late 2024

    Burlington – begin installation of new water meter technology at all homes and businesses.

    Oakville and Milton – installation of new technology for an initial group of homes and businesses. If you are part of this first group, you will receive a letter with information and instructions.

  • Early 2025

    Oakville and Milton – begin installation of new water meter technology at all homes and businesses.

  • Late 2025

    Halton Hills – installation of new technology for an initial group of homes and businesses. If you are part of this first group, you will receive a letter with information and instructions.

  • Mid 2026

    Halton Hills – begin installation of new water meter technology at all homes and businesses.

When it is your turn to upgrade your water meter, you will receive a letter from Halton Region requesting that you book an appointment. If have any questions, please email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311.

Benefits of the new water meter technology

  • Improved tracking of your water usage: You can register for your local hydro provider’s online customer portal to securely access your water use data, meter readings, bills and payments.
  • Conserved water: Through the customer portal, you can set up email alerts to monitor your water usage. If there are increases in usage, you can take steps conserve water or investigate possible leaks.
  • Reduced environmental impact: new technology will eliminate the need for meter readers to drive throughout community to read water meters.
A typical water meter. As part of Halton’s advanced metering infrastructure, your water meter will be connected to a radio transmitter for remote meter reading.

A typical water meter. As part of Halton’s advanced metering infrastructure, your water meter will be connected to a radio transmitter for remote meter reading.

The radio transmitter shown here will be installed on the outside of your home or business, and connected to your water meter. The radio transmitter will allow for remote meter reading.

The radio transmitter shown here will be installed on the outside of your home or business, and connected to your water meter. The radio transmitter will allow for remote meter reading.

How the new water meter technology works

The water meter and radio transmitter work together to allow for remote meter reading.

  1. Your water meter measures your water usage.
  2. The new technology will:
    1. have a transmitter that reads your water usage information;
    2. encrypt your usage information to protect your privacy; and
    3. use wireless technology to send your water usage information to Halton Region. This data is sent six times per day and takes less than one second to send. No personal information is transmitted.
  3. Halton will provide your water usage information to your local hydro provider, who will then include it on your utility bill.
  4. To help manage your water use, you can access your water usage information through your hydro provider’s online customer portal.
  5. There will be no changes to how or when you receive your utility bill.

New meter technology

Data collectors

Halton Region's host software

Hydro provider

Online customer portal

Water bill

Your new water meter technology is safe

The new meter technology is safe and complies with Health Canada’s radio frequency guidelines. The transmitter’s radio frequency levels are significantly less than other common household devices, such as microwaves, WIFI routers or cell phones.

New meter technology (transmitter):
0.00089 uW/cm2 *

Microwave oven:
0.02 uW/cm2 *

WIFI router:
0.3347 uW/cm2 *

Cell phone:
1-5 uW/cm2 *

* microwatts per square centimeter

Frequently asked questions

Below are some common questions and answers about the new meter technology. To get project updates, you can sign up to receive emails.

Will I receive a new water meter?

This depends on the age and compatibility of your water meter. You will either have your whole water meter replaced, or only have a transmitter installed.

When will my property get the new technology?

See the above schedule/timeline. We are installing the new technology at homes and businesses from 2024 to 2026. Halton Region will notify all property owners before coming to install the new transmitters.

How will I know when my home or business will be getting the new technology?

You will receive a letter from Halton Region before we visit your property. A sample copy of this letter is posted to this webpage for reference. If you receive a suspicious message about the upgrades or need further information, please email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311.

How will Halton Region collect data sent by the new water meters?

The radio transmitters installed on the water meters will send data to Halton’s network of receivers located across the region. All installations are safe and meet the health and safety standards set by the federal government.

How do you ensure my data is protected?

Halton Region takes your privacy very seriously. No personal data (such as names and addresses) is stored in the meters or transmitted across the network.

The newly installed transmitter will encrypt your water usage information before sending it to a network of receivers that collect the data. Only the transmitter numbers and your water usage readings are included. Halton provides this information to your local hydro provider, who in turn bills you for your water usage. There will be no change to how you receive your utility bill from your local hydro provider.

Where can I learn more about radio transmitter technology and safety?

Additional information and related documents

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