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What to Expect During Your Installation

Water meters are always located inside the home, usually in the basement
For this reason we require an appointment and for an adult (18+) to be home

The installation requires that your main shutoff valve be fully functional
In the case of a meter exchange, this would be the valve before/upstream to the meter

Please clear the area to ensure your meter is accessible
Our technician needs room to stand in front of the meter and have space for their tool bags

The online booking area is a 4 hour window – 8AM, 12PM, 4PM represents the start time

Please sequester your pets for their well being and the safety of the technician

If you have any questions or concerns, we highly suggest booking through our call center toll free 1-888-290-3070

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Select any of the times in green for your 4 hour window start time
Complete the information form and scroll down to “Next”

Meter Installation –
Frequently Asked Questions

Download FAQ as PDF File
What are the benefits of having a water meter installed? 
With a water meter, you only pay for the water you use; additionally, you can see how much water you are using monthly/weekly/daily, which makes it easier to take water conservation steps.For many communities, benchmarking studies have shown that water metering is an effective way to reduce overall water consumption. Cities including Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg are all universally metered.

Water meters also provide much better information about consumption patterns. This information allows Utilities to be more effective in planning facilities to meet demand and reduce the amount of unaccounted for water (leakage) in the system.

Why does my current water meter need to be replaced? 
Communities and customers rely on the accuracy of readings; moving to one of the latest industry standard technologies, Automated Meter Reading (AMR), will provide much better accuracy and reliability.Your community may also be implementing an infrastructure leak detection system that will help identify costly and damaging leaks on mains and service lines.
What are the benefits of Automated Meter Reading? 
AMR helps communities monitor sustainability and conservation practices, as well as leak detection, potential backflow incidents, and ensures residents are billed for their water consumption in an efficient manner. This metering equipment is suitable for many years to come and will meet the goals of improved customer service, billing accuracy, and employee safety.
Who is installing the meters? 
Metercor has been contracted to install new water meters in your community. The Canadian company, headquartered in Calgary, installs over 30,000 water meters per year here in Alberta, and carries out operations across Canada. Metercor’s Calgary based customer service representatives will be scheduling appointments and its service technicians will be doing the installation work.Metercor technicians will be wearing uniforms, have photo ID, be in marked company vehicles, and have all passed a police security clearance.
When do I make my appointment? 
You will be contacted from Metercor either by letter or phone call to book your appointment at a time that is convenient for you – weekend and evening appointments will be available.
What happens during the installation? 
A Metercor service technician will visit you at the time of your scheduled appointment. The staff member will be uniformed and carrying identification. Someone over 18 years of age must be at the home or place of business to provide access. The technician will need to access the plumbing inside of your home. Typically, the new meter and equipment will be installed in under an hour. Water service for this time period may be interrupted using your main water shut off valve.
Where would my water meter be located? 
Most water meters are in the basement where the water line enters the house, just above the main water shut-off valve. The meter is about the size of a one-litre plastic container of ice cream.
What should I do to prepare for the service? 
Water shut-off valve:
Locate and exercise the main water shut off valve. It is typically located on a pipe that comes out of the floor and has a colored round or straight handle. Ensure the water in your home can be completely shut off. If you find the flow of water does not stop completely, have a plumber repair the faulty valve as soon as possible.Access:
Please clear the area of any personal belongings or storage so the installers have full, and safe access to complete the work.Pets:
It is very important to have any in-home pets sequestered in a place where their well-being and the safety of the installer will not be of issue.
My shut-off valve doesn’t work, how will the installer turn the water off? 
Metercor Installers have all the tools and experience required to stop the flow of water and install the new water meter at the time of your appointment. In some more challenging cases, however, a return
visit may be required.
In the case of a meter replacement, how will this affect water billing? 
You will be billed based on the final read of the old meter and consumption of the new meter.
After the meter is installed, how will the meters be read? 
The meter has a low powered radio transmitter attached that is used to perform the reading; no access to your property is required. Every month the utility will be able to drive through the community and collect the consumption data for billing purposes.
I have a newly-finished basement, where will the meter go? 
A water meter is usually installed just above the main water shut-off valve in your home. This is usually in the basement and is located on a pipe that comes out of your basement floor. If the water pipe is not exposed, the installers will need to expose the pipe to complete the work.
Can my son/daughter allow access to the home if I am away? 
We require that an adult 18 years or older be home at the time of the appointment.
I hardly use any water yet my consumption is high. Why is this? 
Statistics Canada reports that the average person uses approximately nine (9) cubic meters per month. If you are far exceeding this per person amount, then you may have a leak in your plumbing or a running toilet.

Meter Reading –
Frequently Asked Questions

Download FAQ as PDF File
What is AMR? 
AMR stands for Automated Meter Reading. It is a method of using communications technology to read meters remotely or from a distance. AMR increases privacy and convenience for customers as it eliminates the need for a meter reader to enter your property each month to read the meter. It reduces human errors and ensures that customers receive an accurate bill each month. Utilities use automated reads for billing purposes, however, the dials will still be visible so you can read your own meter and confirm that the reading is accurate. Because AMR reduces costs and identifies potential losses, it also helps keep rates as low as possible.
How does AMR work? 
Each meter has a unique ERT attached to it. An ERT is a recording and encoding device with a built-in radio transmitter. These devices will record the water reading, encode the information, and then transmit the reading to a remote data collector. Data collectors can be handheld devices used by a meter reader walking down your street. They can also be installed in vehicles or mounted on utility poles.
What Government approvals do the devices have?  
The Itron transmitter, called an “ERT” (Encoder Receiver Transmitter) has an Industry Canada approval (written on the ERT) and meets Safety 6 standard of Industry Canada.
How often does the ERT take a reading of water usage? 
Once every hour.
What information is collected and transmitted by the ERT? 
Consumption and meter information, such as tamper flags (leak detection, cut cable, reverse flow). The ERT transmits only the collected data. No personally identifiable data transits the network.
What types of signals are used in radio-based AMR to transmit information to and from the meter? 
To transmit consumption from the ERT to the data collector, signals are sent between these devices using radio frequency (RF) energy. RF is the same type of energy used for radio and television broadcasting; cellular telephones; cordless telephones; police, fire, and airport radios. However, the amount of energy emitted from the ERT is far less than that from these other devices.
Are any health-related regulations associated with use of the signals and/or transmissions from AMR systems? 
No. A number of governmental and non-governmental agencies are responsible for establishing laws, codes, and guidelines intended to provide a safe living and working environment. These include:Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Office of Technology and Engineering, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standards, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement (NCRP), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

In establishing RF exposure standards, regulatory agencies have generally relied for guidelines on experts from organizations such as American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). Based on studies by these agencies, the Federal Communications Commission established safety standards for evaluating RF environmental exposure.

The standards identify the threshold level at which harmful biological effects may occur and the values of Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) recommended for electric and magnetic field strength and power density. All of Itron’s AMR devices operate at a level that is orders of magnitude below the limits of the current standards.

Are those signals and any associated concerns the same as, or similar to, concerns I hear about regarding electromagnetic fields (EMF) or power-line carrier AMR systems? 
No. The ERT technology being used by Itron has been around for more than 20 years, and more than 100 million ERTs have been installed throughout the U.S. and Canada. This technology has never been delayed, put on hold, or stopped for reasons of safety.
Are any health hazards associated with Itron’s AMR devices? 
No. There are no known health hazards from the type of devices offered by Itron when used within established guidelines. The equipment is designed to operate at very low levels. This is comparable with electromagnetic fields that are already present in the environment. All equipment operates within Canadian Provincial and Federal standards.Under current guidelines, the emissions from an ERT located 10 feet away is about one-millionth of the Maximum Permissible Exposure to radiation. Even for someone standing as close as two inches from the ERT, the amount of radiation is still 250 times less than the maximum.
Can you give me a comparison between the energy the ERT emits and energy emitted by other types of RF devices? 
A cell phone emits 800 times more RF energy than an ERT. Because the cell phone is used close to your head, the exposure level is more than 3,500 times greater. Moreover, the cell phone transmission is continuous during its operation, whereas the ERT transmits for a total of approximately one minute per day.

Model Mode Power Bubble-up Frequency Bubble-up Duration Relative Power Density in microwatts per square centimeter (µW/cm2) at 3 Meters from device
100W Mobile/HH 10-mW (-10dBm) 15 sec 7.813 ms 0.013 µW/cm2

Relative Power Density in microwatts per square centimeter – at 3 Meters from device (µW/cm2)

FM radio or TV broadcast station signal 0.005
Electric SmartMeter 0.1
Wi-Fi 10 – 20
Laptop computer 10 – 20
Cell phone held up to head 30 – 10,000
Walkie-Talkie at head 500 – 42,000
Will the AMR system interfere with TV, radio, personal computers, home security systems, garage door openers, pacemakers or other electronic equipment? 
No. The system operates at a low frequency and power level reserved for this purpose and will not interfere with any other equipment. The ERT randomly transmits anywhere between 910-920 MHz. This is within the regulated ISM band (Industrial, Scientific and Medical radio bands). The large majority of the messages are at 914-915-916 Mhz. There has been no report of interferences in those frequency ranges.
Where can I find further information? 
You can visit Itron’s RF Resource Center for more frequently asked questions and links to Industry Studies and Regulatory Agency Reports.
https://www.itron.com/na/support/consumer-resource-center/radio-frequency-resource-center

Water Conservation Tips

  • Drinks

    For cold drinks, keep a pitcher or water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.

  • Dishes

    When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.

  • Air Cooled Appliances

    Some refrigerators, air conditioners and ice-makers are cooled with wasted flows of water. Consider upgrading with air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.

  • Sprinklers

    Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.

  • Appliances

    Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

  • Landscaping

    Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.

  • Pools

    Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.

  • Disposals

    Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and save gallons every time.

Checking for Leaks

How to use your water meter to check for leaks:

The best way to determine if you have a leak in your plumbing system is by first checking your water meter.

Make sure no water is being used inside or outside of your house.

Locate your water meter and check the flow indicator to see if it is moving.

Depending on the brand of your meter, the flow indicator could be a small black wheel or red triangle that rotates when water is flowing through the meter. If the wheel is turning, chances are, you have a leak.

Or, write down your meter reading at night after the last person goes to bed. Read the meter again in the morning before anyone starts using the water. If the number has increased, and you have not used any water, you may have a leak.

How to check for toilet leaks: “The Toilet Test”

  1. Remove the toilet tank lid.
  2. Drop 10 drops of food coloring into the tank.
  3. Do not flush.
  4. Wait at least 10-15 minutes, and then look in the bowl. If the water is colored, you have a leak.

A leaky toilet can silently waste thousands of gallons in a month. A leaky flapper or a broken fill valve are the main culprits for water wasting toilets.

Find your leak! Top Sources of Residential Home Leaks:

  • Leaky toilets
  • Drippy faucets and shower heads
  • Dripping shut off valves and hot water tank valves
  • Leaking irrigation, sprinklers and hoses
  • Leaking pools, hot tubs and fountains
  • Humidifiers and water softeners
  • Refrigerator ice machines, dishwashers, clothes washers