Building Permit Application - Deck & Sunroom
View the Deck & Sunroom Permit Application Package.
Water Meter Upgrade Project
ade Project, or learn water conservation tips, visit our website at Regina dot C-A slash water
meter”. Text appears across the screen with a link to Regina.ca/watermeter. *City of Regina outro sound* The Regina logo appears in
the middle of the screen. Have questions about the water meter upgrade project? Find answers here!
Do I have to pay for the new meter or the installation? There is no charge for the meter or the
installation. How will this impact my water bill? The upgrade project will not cause an increase in
water utility rates. The cost of the water meter replacement project has already been budgeted in
the City’s 5-year capital plan approved in 2023 and will be funded out of the Utility Reserve.
However, as older meters tend to under-register the amount of water that is going through them, it
is normal that a newer meter will more accurately measure the water passing through it, resulting
in the possibility of receiving a higher monthly bill. Can I opt out of the installation? The water
meter upgrade is mandatory, and all properties will need to upgrade the infrastructure. Why does it
take three years to do this work? With more than 76,000 water meters to be upgraded, the timeline
for a project of this size is as expected. For each water meter in service, time is needed for the
customer to book an appointment, gain access to every property, as well as enough time for the
technicians to complete the work. Why is the project schedule divided by wards and why doesn't it
start with Ward 1? The work schedule was developed considering a number of factors such as billing
cycles, how neighbourhoods cross ward boundaries and ease of communicating to residents. Many
residents are already familiar with the ward boundary system, and it’s easily searchable on the
website. Why is my ward showing “Complete”, but I know my meter wasn’t upgraded yet? The “Complete”
status demonstrates a completion rate of 98 per cent or greater of meters upgraded within the ward.
However, there may be a few properties that are still considered non-compliant. If that is your
property, contact our contractor, Neptune Technology Group to book your upgrade appointment. Who is
responsible for booking the upgrade appointment – the landlord or tenant? Information about the
water meter upgrade will be sent to water utility customers. I live in a brand-new home (within the
last 5 years or so) do I still need this upgrade? Yes. All water meters currently installed in
homes and businesses are part of an aging meter reading system that is reaching the end of its
lifecycle and due for replacement. What is the difference between this new meter and the old one?
Currently, City staff drive around the city to gather digital reads from outside all properties.
The upgraded infrastructure will make that unnecessary. Going forward, the meter from your home
will send the water reading to the transmitter wired to the outside, and the transmitter will send
that reading to the City. Eliminating the use of meter reading vehicles will result in a reduction
of about 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year. What’s the benefit of these new
meters for the City? The new meter system will help the City increase efficiency and improve
operations through the ability to investigate, diagnose and solve water distribution problems, as
well as provide more insight into customer use. How does the meter send information to the radio
transmitter on the outside of the house? The meter in the basement is connected to the transmitter
attached to the outside of the home through a wire, similar to an internet, cable, doorbell or
telephone line. Does the meter constantly send signals to the radio transmitter through Bluetooth?
No, the water meter has no wireless signal capability and is not Bluetooth. Information is sent
regularly through the fixed wire to the radio transmitter on the outside of the property. Is the
radio frequency emitted by the transmitters safe to have near my home? The radio frequency (RF)
waves from these meters are lower than what is generated by cellular telephones and other common
household appliances like a garage door opener. In addition, they emit for very short times in the
day and are well below Health Canada and Industry Canada regulations. What do data collectors look
like? The data collectors are like old tv antennas. Some are attached to existing light posts while
a majority will be free-standing poles, like flag poles, and can reach a maximum height of 45 ft.
What do the data collectors do? Data collectors are a critical component of the system and are how
the upgraded meters and transmitters “talk” to the City’s system. The data collectors only transmit
water consumption information during scheduled time periods. Will customer information be safe if
it's being transmitted wirelessly? The City applies the same privacy protection standards as the
metering system that has been running since 2004. Only encrypted meter readings and meter
identification are transmitted, not your personal information. The City complies with
Saskatchewan's privacy legislation. Is there a risk of meters catching fire? No, there is no risk
of fire with the new water meters or radio transmitters as they use a low voltage DC battery
source. The units themselves are completely sealed and all external electrical connections will be
sealed and insulated. The City’s new meter upgrade project is unrelated to past programs
implemented by other utilities. What is the City doing with all the old water meters? All existing
meters and equipment will be removed and recycled, and this is part of the contract with Neptune.
What will the new online customer service do that the current one can’t? The new online service
offers many benefits for customers, including enhanced water consumption information. This can help
customers conserve and manage water use, as well as detect water leaks. In addition, improved
customer support with timely meter reads and electronic notifications about planned water outages.
Post-Installation Inspections It’s important to ensure that Neptune is completing the upgrades
according to contract standards. Diameter Services is managing this large three-year contract on
the City’s behalf. Diameter is working with Neptune Technology Group who are completing the
physical upgrades to all water meters in Regina. Will all properties be inspected? No, not every
upgraded meter will be inspected. How will I know if my property will be inspected? Within one week
after your installation is complete, a Diameter Inspector may knock on your door and request to do
an inspection. How will I identify the Inspectors? Diameter Inspectors will carry both a City of
Regina and Diameter ID badge with their photo and name clearly displayed. They will also wear
branded uniforms and have a company logo on their vehicle. What should I expect during the
inspection visit? The Inspector will visually inspect the newly upgraded water meter in the
basement and the transmitter installed on the outside of the property to validate that the work
completed by Neptune Technology Group meets the project’s standards. Inspections will require
approximately 15 minutes to complete their work. Should any concerns be identified, the Inspector
will advise the resident and notify Neptune Technology Group. If necessary, Neptune will book a
follow-up appointment with the utility customer to resolve concerns and ensure the consistent
standard is met. Who should I contact if I have any concerns? For any concerns regarding the
installation, please contact Neptune Technology at the number provided in the letters, on the
information sheet, or provided following the installation.
Questions & Answers
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