Water meter installation could cost more for small number of residents

The switch-over to water meters in Charlottetown may cost more for some customers with more complicated plumbing set-ups, if their water line is behind a wall and pipes aren't easily accessible.

But the chair of Charlottetown's Water and Sewer Committee explained it's likely that fewer than 100 people are in this situation.  

"If your valve or your connector into your house was installed and covered when you built it, or you did renovations in the basement we say, and put a bathroom in and you covered it, there's going to have to be hole cut in the gyprock," said Edward Rice. 

"It's not that many dollars." 

Crews are out daily installing meters, and Rice said in most cases its a simple, free job.

City trying to speed things up

The city officially began the water meter installation program in October 2015.

Initially the hope was to have all meters installed by the end of 2019 but now city officials are hoping to get the majority done by the end of this year.  

Out of 10, 000 customers, about 2,000 remain. The city is also offering weekend and evening appointments in an effort to get more people hooked up.   

"It's not to have the rush at the end, it's to have a timely way to do this," said Rice. "We're saying sign up."

About conservation

The city is adopting the metered-water system to encourage water conservation.

"They just become conscious and all of a sudden they'll realize I'm going to shut that tap off, I'm paying for this now," said Rice. 

Most of Charlottetown's water comes from Winter River but the city will open a new well field in Miltonvale this fall. The water meters will help the city qualify for federal and provincial funding. 

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Young P.E.I. scientist earns Harvard fellowship
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Small plane crashes in Hampton, P.E.I., with 3 aboard