Montreal to install water meters for businesses, hospitals

Montreal is set to install water meters in non-residential buildings in a bid to bettermonitor commercial and industrial water use.

Thenew meters will allow the city to gauge water use in businesses and institutions, which will help officialsdecide where to makeinfrastructure investments, said Mayor Gérald Tremblay, who announced the $423-millionplan on Wednesday.

The meters will also make it easier to control water pressure, reduce water use and cut down on wastage, saving the city money, which will help finance the 25-year plan, Tremblay said.

Montreal's water system is decrepit and needs massive renovations. Many parts of the aqueduct network were installed before the First World War and have reached the end of their lifespan.

The first 30,000 water meters are scheduled to be installed in 2008. The city will also build 600 regulation sites where water use will be recorded.

Water meters aren't new to the island— some suburbs have been using meters for years.