Installing Water Meters In New Buildings

Accounts for water services are automatically created when building permits are issued. The building permit holder must provide a valid mailing address (not the new building address) for water bills that may be issued during construction.

Water meters cannot be installed until the basement is built and the water service line is installed in the basement. This means the City offers a “no water use period” at the time the building permit is issued. The “no water use period” is three months for single family residential buildings and four months for all other buildings. No water charges will apply in this time frame. Charges will only apply for water use once a water meter is installed or once the “no water use period” has passed.

If the water meter has not been installed by the end of the “no water use period,” unmetered charges will apply. The 2012 rate for unmetered water charges for a typical residential building is $5.24 per day. Unmetered charges will continue until the water meter is installed.

To minimize unmetered charges, the builder should complete the basement and the water piping where the meter will be installed and make an appointment to have a water meter installed. Appointments can be made by calling the Water Meter Shop at 777-6943.

If construction is delayed due to unforeseen or uncontrollable circumstances, the builder may apply for an extension to the “no water use period”.  A request for extension must include the street address, the building permit issued date, the cause of the delay, and the exact number of days being requested.   At this time there is no charge for the extension. 

For more information, please contact the City at 777-7000 or email utilitybilling@regina.ca.