City to launch universal Water Meter program
Merritt residents and businesses currently consume water at a rate well above national average. This may be due in part to water being lost in aging watermains.
Thanks to funding from the Province of BC, the City of Merritt is now initiating a universal water metering program. A standard water meter will be installed in every household FREE OF CHARGE to homeowners. It is expected that with accurate information about water usage, the City will be able to identify infrastructure deficiencies and see a decrease in water usage.
Reference the City of Merritt Waterworks Bylaw #2392, 2025 (adopted February 25, 2025): “A Water Meter shall be installed for each category on every parcel that receives water service from the City as per the Fees and Charges Bylaw. The City may refuse or Discontinue to supply water to any premises…”
Merritt Received $3 Million for Water Meter Program
JUNE 2023
BC’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs has authorized a $3,000,000 grant for the implementation of a universal water metering program for the City of Merritt. Many municipalities implement residential, industrial, commercial and institutional water metering as a method to encourage water conservation. While the City currently has water metering in place for organizations and multi-unit complexes within the community, it has not been able to raise the funds to implement residential water metering for the larger residential community.
With climate change, there is greater global awareness of the need to implement water conservation policies. Fresh water is a precious limited global resource that is declining. In Merritt in particular, the Coldwater River is a “losing reach” or “sinking river,” where incoming water fills our aquifers, effectively draining water from vital fish habitats. To protect and conserve our water sources, communities must seek methods to reduce waste, such as through public information campaigns, dry weather watering restrictions, and water metering programs.
While the City of Merritt’s Water Conservation Policy led to a 43% decline in average water consumption per person from 2006 to 2019, the City’s consumption (742 litres/person/day) was still significantly higher than the provincial average (286 litres/person/day residential (465 litres all sectors) and nearly 3.5 times the national household average (223 litres/person/day (401 litres all sectors) (2021)).
While City water seems to be “free”, it is not free. The cost of water is billed to each property owner on their taxes. Water metering is more equitable as those residents that conserve their water usage would likely experience a reduction in taxes, while those that use large amounts will be billed appropriately for their consumption. The purpose of water metering is largely to help residents become mindful of their water usage and to practice water conservation efforts. Statistics show that when a water metering system is implemented, communities reduce their consumption by up to 39%.
With this additional water conservation tactic, the City should be able to avoid the need for costly capital improvements, such as adding new wells, and avoid any negative impact on taxation.
And since this $3,526,814 project is funded largely by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, with the remaining $500K+ from the City’s water reserve fund, residents will not see any additional costs for this improvement.
“The City of Merritt is grateful to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for their continued support in helping to improve the City’s services and to implement good water conservation practices,” says Mayor Michael Goetz. “This funding is an important first step towards protecting our future water resources.”
This project helps the City meet Provincial and First Nations regulations and expectations in relation to drought management. Additionally, this project will enable the City to better position itself for future development without adding significant extra costs for water infrastructure. The City anticipates that this will be a 3-4 year project, with planning and public consultation commencing this year.
SEE WATER METERING PLAN: BUSINESS CASE (2022) | IMPLEMENTATION REPORT (2008)
This project is funded through the provincial Critical Community Infrastructure Fund which supports clean drinking water, wastewater and solid waste treatment and greenhouse gas reduction through public infrastructure projects in communities provincewide. This is in addition to the $1-billion Growing Communities Fund which was provided to all 188 B.C. municipalities and regional districts to support their unique infrastructure and amenities needs.
Water Conservation Study + Policy
In 2021, the City updated its Water Conservation Policy which sets out a long-term plan for future water conservation efforts within the City of Merritt. The Outdoor Watering Conservation policy is a part of the overall strategy to reduce peak water demands during the summer months and authorizes staff to adjust watering restrictions in accordance with the BC Drought Response Plan. ALSO SEE WATER CONSERVATION STUDY.
Community Water System
Merritt’s aquifer has a fairly sizable, safe and consistent supply of potable water that should be able to support current and future growth without adding more than it’s current 5 wells or 3 reservoirs. However, during the dry hot summer months, when water demand is at its peak, incoming water from the Coldwater river naturally drains into the City’s aquifers, lowering river levels and stressing fish habitats. With climate change, there is a risk of greater variability in the supply and demand on the water system. It is the responsibility of every resident to practice water conservation methods. READ THE COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM REPORT and WATER UTILITY MASTER PLAN.
