Water meters are coming to Pemberton homes and businesses.
The province has awarded $5.1 million to the Village of Pemberton (VOP) and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) to support to installation of water meters with the goal of tracking and reducing water consumption.
“This project aligns strongly with our strategic priority to protect our environment and focus on sustainable, forward-thinking practices for the community,” said Pemberton mayor Mike Richman, in a release.
“With this investment, we can better manage our water supply, help residents understand their own water use, deliver on our water conservation goals and make informed decisions about our community’s infrastructure for the future.”
The province announced a $50 million Water Meter Pilot Project on May 6. The investment will cover the installation of 15,000 new automated water meters in 19 small, rural and First Nations communities across the province. The funds will cover 100 per cent of eligible project costs—including the meters’ purchase and installation, cellular infrastructure and software and data collection and communication.
This initiative aims to help small communities and local water suppliers manage water use, mitigate the impacts of drought, detect leaks by noting abnormal water usage and ensure that customers are only paying for what they use.
An estimate from the province suggests the investment could reduce water consumption by up to 30 percent, saving 1.5 billion litres of water each year—"the equivalent of a day’s worth of drinking water for 750 million people, 37.5 million showers or washing 30 million loads of laundry.”
Volumetric pricing for the Village
The $4.75 million received by the Village of Pemberton will go towards installing meters on properties using the Village and Industrial Park water systems, while the $343,815 to the SLRD will cover the installation of meters in the Pemberton North Water System.
At present, Pemberton residents are charged a flat rate based on property type. That rate is determined annually through a bylaw, and takes into account annual fixed costs for maintenance, administration and operations.
Water meters provide data that utilities can use to charge customers based on the volume of water they consume, also known as volumetric pricing. That new model provides a direct financial incentive for residents and businesses to reduce water consumption.
Pemberton’s chief administrative officer, Elizabeth Tracy said the long-term goal is to shift towards volumetric pricing, but that the transition won’t happen immediately. The priority is getting the meters installed, then collecting data on consumption.
“This transition would ultimately require Council approval through a future bylaw amendment,” she told Pique in an email. “However, participation in the pilot program positions the Village to take this step in alignment with provincial best practices. These practices emphasize conservation education, leak detection and demand management through volume tracking."
“Over time, as the Village gathers water use data and applies best practices in water use accounting, volumetric pricing will be optimized with the goal of serving as an effective tool to support long-term water sustainability.”
The pilot project will collect data over the course of six years; participating communities are expected to share their findings on the benefits and challenges associated with water metering with the government and B.C. water suppliers.
The installation of water meters is scheduled to be complete by March 31, 2027.
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