Water Meters

Review your bill to determine which tier you are paying, with Tier 1 being the lowest volume of water and Tier 3 being the highest. 

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Under this structure, about 50 per cent of customers consume less than the second consumption block on an average month. Similarly, the third consumption tier was created so that about 80 per cent of customers consume less than the third consumption tier during the summer months.

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Homes and businesses throughout Penticton are fitted with water meters that track your water usage for the purpose of monthly water billing. It's important to know that these meters are the homeowner's responsibility to maintain and protect from the elements.

City staff will read your meter for billing purposes, but if you wish to monitor your own consumption, here's how:

• Shine a flashlight over the flashlight icon (located on the register) to turn on the LCD display.
• Take a reading at a set time of the day.
• Take a second reading at the same time the next day.
• The difference between the two readings is your daily water consumption.

Understanding Your Water Meter Display
The nine-digit LCD displays your meter reading in cubic metres. To calculate your water usage, you will need to convert your reading into litres by multiplying your meter reading by 1,000.

i.e. If meter display shows 24.5200, usage = 24,520 Litres (24.5200 x 1000)

The two greatest causes of water leaks inside a home are running toilets and excessive water pressure. Some steps are listed below with details about what you can do to trace it.

Listen for running water

Locate the main shut-off in your home and place ear to service line or pipe. Do you hear an audible flow of water? This may indicate leaks if all taps are off inside of residence.

How to use your T-10 water meter to detect leaks

1. Locate the City water meter, typically located inside your residence. The most common location is directly after the main water shut-off and before the valve for your outside irrigation.
2. Confirm all taps are turned off inside and outside of residence. While looking directly down at the top of the water meter, locate the small red diamond to the left side of the face. If this red diamond is rotating, it indicates you have a leak.
3. You may wish to track the readings on the water meter dial during a time when the residence is empty or faucets have no use. For example, write the numbers down at the end of the day and again in the morning before any water is used. If the numbers have increased, you may have a leak.
    

How to use your ultra-sonic water meter to detect leaks

1. When the cover on the meter is opened a digital display appears. All symbols will be visible for a few seconds and then it will display the total consumption.
   
2. If the dripping faucet is visible along with the total consumption, this indicates a slow water leak.
    

Check water fixtures

• Are there any taps dripping inside or outside your home? (A faucet dripping at only one drip every two seconds will waste more than 1,000 gallons per year.)
• Is there a toilet running inside your home? Check the toilet bowl to see if there is water trickling down at the back (faulty flapper valve). Use dye tablets (available at your local hardware store) and place in your toilet tank to assist in detection. Lift the tank lid and check to see if the water level is up to the top of the overflow tube and wasting water (may require float adjustment or new assembly).

Check your Pressure Regulator Valve

Pressure Regulating valves come preset from the factory at 50-55psi for home use.  Use a pressure gauge and put on the outside house tap (hose bib).  If the outside tap is tee’d off before the regulating valve, you will get a reading indicating the street pressure supplied from the City.  If the outside line is tee’d off after the regulating valve the gauge will indicate your regulated pressure (50-55psi).

Alternatively you can use the cold water line that feeds the washing machine. Locate the cold supply line inside the home where the washing machine is connected, turn off the water supply and install the pressure gauge, now turn on the water. This gauge reading will give you an indication of the inside household pressure.  If this reading is greater than 55psi, the home owner should have pressure regulating valve adjusted or replaced.

City staff can read the community’s approximately 9,500 water meters, in conjunction with approximately 25,000 electrical meters, using an AMR drive-by system.

This is conducted monthly and takes about 20 hours to complete – equivalent to 1,700+ meters per hour. Previously, meters were read on foot, which took several weeks. The City of Penticton embraces the use of technology to create efficiencies in our work.

Your water meter is typically located inside your home. The most common location is directly after the main water shut-off and before the valve for your outside irrigation.

If your water meter is located in an area susceptible to cold temperatures, it’s recommended that insulation is wrapped around the meter. This could be fiberglass or foam insulation or, at the least, wrap with a fuzzy blanket or old towel. See the example below. 

If you are going away, have someone check on your property regularly, as required by your home insurance, and never completely shut off the heat (thermostat recommended to be set at 16 C).

If you have an outdoor irrigation system that has been drained for winter, don’t forget to turn off the water leading to the irrigation at the interior valve. Ensure all hoses and faucets are turned off. 

To report non-emergency issues involving your water, please fill out our Report an Issue online form. The appropriate City staff member will be in touch soon.

For urgent issues involving water mains or sewer backups, please contact:
Public Works
Phone: 250-490-2500
Email: publicworks@penticton.ca

If your meter is noisy or leaky, please report to Public Works to schedule a site visit.

Public Works
Phone: 250-490-2500
Email: publicworks@penticton.ca

If the City detects an issue with any of the devices, you may receive a letter requesting you to call in and schedule an appointment for repair. This can be completed between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.