The City of Courtenay is introducing a Residential Water Metering Program as part of its long term strategy to advance water conservation, equity, climate resilience and the financial sustainability of the water utility.
Residential water metering provides accurate information about water use, supports more responsible consumption and helps reduce peak system demand, which drives long-term infrastructure costs and risk. Metering is already in place for industrial, commercial and multi-residential customers, while most single-residential properties are currently billed on a flat-rate basis.
Why residential water metering is being implementing
Analysis completed as part of the City’s Water Metering Business Case demonstrates that residential water use is the dominant driver of peak water system demand, particularly during the summer months, when consumption is nearly double the winter base demand.
Residential water metering supports both community wide and household benefits, including:
- Reducing high seasonal and discretionary outdoor water use
- Improving drought readiness and system resilience
- Supporting long-term water supply and infrastructure planning
- Deferring or reducing the need for costly water storage and supply expansions
- Improving equity and transparency by ensuring customers pay for the water they use
- Enabling early detection of leaks and unusual water use
These outcomes align with Council endorsed policy objectives related to conservation, climate adaptation, infrastructure sustainability, and responsible asset management.
Program approach and phasing
The Residential Water Metering Program will be implemented through a phased, balanced approach, allowing for a gradual transition, system learning, and customer readiness.
Phase 1: Mandatory meter installation
- Approximately 2,500 single-residential properties will receive water meters
- Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) will be installed to enable automated meter reading
- Customers will receive mock bills to understand water-use patterns before any billing changes
This phase establishes baseline consumption data, validates system performance, and informs the development of conservation based rate structures.
Phase 2: Voluntary meter program
- A voluntary, capacity-managed program will be offered to the remaining single-residential properties.
- Annual participation targets will be established through the budget process.
- If voluntary uptake is insufficient each year, additional mandatory installations may be rolled out.
Over time, the City will transition to universal residential water metering, subject to performance, financial, and program delivery considerations, as well as future Council direction.
The overall transition is expected to occur over approximately 12 years, depending on participation levels and Council decisions.
Who is affected
The program applies to single-residential property owners across the city.
Affected households will receive advance notice of meter installation schedules, access requirements, and participation details.
Funding and rates
The Residential Water Metering Program will initially be funded through rate revenues, with the intent that the program becomes self-funding over time.
A conservation based rate structure will be developed once sufficient residential consumption data is available from the initial mandatory phase. Final rate design and funding mechanisms will be determined through future Council decisions as part of the City’s financial strategy.
What to expect during meter installation
Additional information will be provided to residents before installation, including:
- How and where meters are to be installed
- What to expect on the day of installation
- How AMI meters work and transmit data
- How metering supports leak detection and water-use awareness
Future communications may include visual materials, such as diagrams or short animations, consistent with other City infrastructure programs.
Project timeline
- 2026: Financial strategy and implementation framework presented to Council
- Following Council direction: Launch of project webpage and initial public communications
- Ongoing: Updates at the start of each program phase, including progress, benefits and water-use trends