Water Distribution System
Reservoirs
Regina has 5 treated water storage reservoirs situated around the city. These reservoirs hold a total of about 160 million litres of water and are used to:
- maintain water supply during times of high demand
- provide water supply during a power failure or other emergencies
- provide additional water for fire fighting
Pumping stations
Regina has 3 pumping stations to pressurize and deliver treated water through the water mains to its customers. These stations deliver water continuously even during power failures.
Water mains
There are over 900 kms of water mains within the city limits. These mains vary in size from 100 mm to 1050 mm.
Water meters
The treated water travels through the water mains, through underground pipes in your yard and enters your home (usually in the basement). All buildings are equipped witha water meter to measure water use.
All water meters are installed with a radio transmitter. This technology allows the City of Regina to read your water meter without entering your home. The meters are also more accurate and allow you to be billed on actual, not estimated, water consumption.
The radio transmitter does not interfere with other radio transmissions such as garage door openers, pace makers, baby monitors, cell phones, cordless phones, or any other communication devices. The transmitter works in this fashion:
- The radio transmitter attached to the meter is in the "sleep" mode most of the time, waiting for a meter reader to approach.
- Meter readers drive a vehicle equipped with a data collector unit which sends out a "wake up" signal. When the transmitter receives the signal, it wakes up, determines what the water meter reading is, and sends this reading along with its identification number back to the data collector unit.
- Once the meter reading has been successfully transmitted, the transmitter goes back to its "sleep" mode.
- The information is downloaded by the City of Regina at the end of the day and used to calculate your next water bill.