WATER METERS


Most homes are equipped with a water meter with a register similar to the following:


  1. Centre sweep hand (red) – Indicates the consumption. One complete revolution is equal to one hundredth of a cubic meter.
  2. Low-flow indicator (white triangle) – This indicator will turn at the least amount of water demand.
  3. Totalizer wheels with 6 digits (including 2 decimals, in black) – It indicates how many cubic meters were consumed since installation. This is the number that is read electronically once a month. The actual reading minus the previous month's reading will give you your monthly consumption.

Frequently asked questions

What are the details at the bottom of the letter dated June 23, 2010?



  1. Meter number – This number was assigned to the meter for internal use only. It does not appear on the meter. However, each meter is identified by a unique serial number. The transmitter is also equipped with a unique serial number.
  2. Address where the water meter was installed – This address may not be complete, eg. if there is more than one address
  3. Monthly consumptions – Consumptions from January to May 2010 are included. The readings are taken all the same day during the first week of each month.

Why is my consumption higher than the average of 17 cubic meters indicated in the letter?

The average of 17 cubic meters per month was calculated using statistics from January to May. During this period, 62% of households consumed 15 cubic meters or less.

Several factors may influence the consumption of a household:

the number of people living in the household and their water consumption habits;
watering outdoor plants and lawn;
maintenance of a pool or spa;
obsolete toilets and appliances; and
leaky toilets, faucets and plumbing.


How much will my water bill be?

Water and sewer rates are based on costs of operation and infrastructure for those two services. Presently, each household and most businesses pay a fixed amount regardless of their consumption. Beginning January 1st, 2011, the billing method will take into account the consumption of all users (residential, commercial, industrial and institutional) so that each pays according to their usage. Thus, if a household's consumption is near Hawkesbury's average residential consumption, there should not be a significant difference in the amount of the new bill.


Information and suggestions for reducing water consumption

Showers, taps, toilets

Conventional shower heads have a water flow of 15 to 20 litres/minute. New shower heads reduce the flow by half.
Install low-flow aerators in your faucets and reduce the flow rate dramatically. Most new faucets on the market already have aerators installed.
Replace your toilet with one that uses a smaller amount of water, 4.8 to 6 litres per flush instead of 13 to 18 litres.

Leak detection

To verify whether a leak exists, examine the low-flow indicator at the centre of the water meter register. If there is a leak, the triangle will turn even if all taps in the house are turned off.
A leak of only one drop per second wastes about 10 000 litres of water per year.
A toilet with a significant leak can waste up to 16 cubic meters per month! To detect a leak in your toilet, add a few drops of food colouring in the tank. If the colour appears in the bowl without having flushed, there is a leak.

Save 12 litres/minute by...

turning off the tap when brushing your teeth. Wet your toothbrush and use a glass of water to rinse.
keeping drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running tap water until it becomes cold.

Washing a car can take up to 500 litres of water!

Turn the water off when applying soap or use dry cleaning products for the car.

Dishwasher

Wait until you have completely filled the dishwasher before using it.

Cleaning a paved driveway

You can save thousands of litres of water by using a broom to sweep the driveway instead of using a hose.

Watering outdoor plants and lawn

Watering trees slowly and less frequently allows them to produce deep roots and they will thus be healthier and require less water.
Water your lawn early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize losses due to evaporation. It also achieves greater soil saturation and provides better absorption of the water. This will also improve soil saturation and water will absorb better.
Use a barrel to store rainwater which you can use to water your plants. Many plants do not require daily watering, they can survive with only rainwater. Ask your garden centre professional.
Irrigation systems that provide water to the roots of plants or turf use much less water.
Choose a sprinkler system that meets the needs of the size of your yard.
Check the temperature and water only when necessary.
Use a regulator to determine the rate and duration of watering.

Environment Canada's website provides a wealth of information on the use of water, maintaining water supplies and infrastructure, suggestions for reducing water consumption at home as well as a Water Use Calculator.

Visit the section entitled “Wise water use” at www.ec.gc.ca.


Responsibilities of the municipality and owners

All buildings connected to the municipal waterworks system are required to install and use a water meter. The municipality as well as the owner have responsibilities, please consult By-law no. 61-2008 for details.

If you notice a fire hydrant, a toilet or a tap in a municipal building leaking, please contact us at (613) 632-0106 ext. 2020.


Installation of a meter in new constructions

Please contact the building department at (613) 632-0106, ext. 2020 for any new installation.