Metro Vancouver considering water meters for all homes

Metro Vancouver may soon keep tabs on your water use and charge you for every drop.

“White Rock, West Vancouver, parts of Richmond and Langley all have water meters and it does reduce consumption. Putting a price on water makes people become aware of what they are paying for,” Darrell Mussatto, Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee Chair and Mayor of the City of North Vancouver, said.

Following last year’s hot, dry summer in Metro Vancouver, the region wants to raise awareness and reduce water consumption.

It is also considering installing water meters at a cost of up to $1,000 for every home.

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Mussatto said meters may not necessarily mean lower water bills.

“They could even go up because you have to pay for metering and the building for metering and installing the meters, so it will add a significant cost,” he said.

A cheaper alternative could be to hire more bylaw enforcement officers. Metro Vancouver will study both options over the next two years.

The region’s Utilities Committee has also voted to adjust the start date for Stage 1 water restrictions from June 1 – September 30, to May 15 through to October 15.

In the meantime, snowpacks are still at 80 per cent, meaning the region will likely head into summer with full reservoirs.

– With files from Tanya Beja and Yuliya Talmazan