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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.

Important information for Burlington residents & business owners

In September 2024, Halton Region will begin sending letters to homes and businesses in the City of Burlington to notify them that we are coming to your area to upgrade your water meter and/or replace the reading device for your water meter with a radio transmitter. Please be patient — we will contact you before we are working in your area.

Homeowners and businesses will require one of two types of upgrades, depending on the age and compatibility of your current water meter:

Upgrade Type 1: new water meter and radio transmitter are required
  • Residents and business owners are required to book an appointment to have this upgrade completed. You can only book an appointment AFTER you receive this letter.
  • An adult over 18 years old needs to be home for the appointment.
  • The Region’s contractor, KTI Utility Services will need to enter the home/business to complete the water meter upgrade.
  • Sample of a type-1 letter you will receive (PDF file).
Upgrade Type 2: new radio transmitter is required (no water meter upgrade)
  • No appointment needed.
  • You will receive a letter telling you when we will visit your home/business to install a radio transmitter.
  • The Region’s contractor, KTI Utility Services do not need to enter your home or business (work can be completed outside).
  • Sample of a type-2 letter you will receive (PDF file).

Please visit this webpage for updates about the modernization of our water meter infrastructure.

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

  • Burlington pilot complete.

    New water meters and radio transmitters installed at 280 homes and businesses.

  • Begin installation of new water meter technology at all homes and businesses in Burlington. Anticipated completion by end of 2025.

    Letters with instructions will be mailed to homes and businesses starting September 2024.

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

  • Begin installation of new water meter technology at all homes and businesses in Oakville and Milton.

    Start pilot project in Halton Hills.

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

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 to conserve water or investigate possible leaks.
  • Reduced environmental impact:
    New technology will eliminate the need for meter readers to drive throughout your 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

Will I receive a new water meter?

This depends on the age and compatibility of your water meter. You will either have your water meter replaced and have a radio transmitter installed (Upgrade Type 1) or you will just have a radio transmitter installed (Upgrade Type 2).

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. If you need a new water meter and a radio transmitter, you will need to book an appointment. If you only need a radio transmitter, no appointment is necessary.

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

You will receive one of two letters from Halton Region before we visit your property. Sample copies of these letters are available here 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?

Sign up for updates about the new meter upgrades

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Additional information and related documents

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