Water Meter Replacement Program

Book your appointment here

Appointments are available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 3pm, excluding statutory holidays. It is important that you schedule your appointment within one week of receiving the first notice, so that the program can proceed on time. You can also book an appointment by calling WAMCO at 1-833-926-2626.

When installers are in your area, you will receive a brochure and notice letter. Make sure to book an appointment that corresponds to the 'zone' number noted in the top right hand corner of the letter.

Once your appointment is booked, you will receive an email confirmation and be reminded by email and/or text message one day before your scheduled appointment if an email address or cell phone number was provided.

If you are no longer available for your appointment, please contact WAMCO at 1-833-926-2626 to re-schedule your appointment as soon as possible.

Note: If you have not received a letter, your meter has not yet been identified as requiring replacement. Please wait until you receive a notice letter before booking an appointment. Installers are working in certain areas and are not able to deviate from the scheduled routes.

Benefits of the program

This Water Meter Replacement Program is necessary to ensure improved communication between your water meter and the City’s water meter readers. Other benefits of this project include, but are not limited to:

• Improved water meter reading accuracy. If the resident's water meter was previously over-registering or under-registering, the new water meter will now measure the water usage accurately.
• Ability for the City to conduct remote water meter readings. The new meter technology will communicate wirelessly with the City and eliminate the need for a technician to enter your property to manually read your meter.
• The future ability to identify leaks within the system before they become a larger issue.
• The future ability for residents to track their water usage through an online portal.

How to prepare for your appointment

• If you are the tenant: Please advise the property owner that the water meter requires replacement. They are required to provide easy access to the City owned water meter for City-authorized staff or contractors to complete the installation of a new meter.
• A responsible adult (18 years or older) must be available for the full duration of the appointment.
• Make sure the area where your water meter is located is clear and easily accessible.
• Water meters are located inside your home near the main shut-off valve where the water service lines enter your home – usually in the basement.
• The new water meter will require an area about 14" wide x 14" high x 6" deep. This will allow space for the new water meter and any necessary plumbing fittings.

Important: If your water meter is located behind drywall or a panel, the WAMCO installer will cut a small section to gain access to the main shut-off valve. The water meter may require maintenance in the future, therefore the hole cannot be permanently covered.

What to expect during your appointment

The appointment will take approximately 30 to 60 minutes to complete. During this time, the WAMCO installer will:

1. Turn off your water before the work begins.
2. Remove the existing water meter and install a new water meter inside the home.    
3. Install an outside water meter reader (radio read box) over the existing reader, usually located outside your home. If an outside water meter reader does not exist, WAMCO will install one for you. This will be done by running a wire from the inside water meter to the outside water meter reader.
4. When the work is done, the technician will turn the water back on.

Note: WAMCO installers have received the proper training and certification necessary to perform water meter installations within the Province of Ontario.

How to identify a WAMCO installer

WAMCO installers will wear an identification tag with Kawartha Lakes and WAMCO logos, be in a WAMCO uniform, and have identification on their vehicle with both WAMCO and the City of Kawartha Lakes logos.

Note: Installers will not show up at your door without a scheduled appointment. Should you wish to confirm the identification of a WAMCO installer, please contact WAMCO at 1-833-926-2626.

FAQ

Do I have to pay for the meter?

No. There is no charge to the property owner or occupant for the replacement of the water meter.

How will I know when work is being done in my area?

Meter replacements are being completed on a zone-by-zone basis. When technicians are in your area, you will receive a brochure and notice in the mail with more detailed information, including instructions on how to book an appointment.

Why am I getting a new meter and my neighbour isn't?

The typical life of a meter is 15 to 20 years. Like most mechanical devices, they eventually need to be replaced. In other cases, municipalities can decide that it is time to upgrade the meter so that it is compatible with the latest meter reading technology.

In either of the above cases, the City has carefully selected which meters need to be replaced or upgraded. Not all homes in your area will have meters that need to be changed.

When will my area be added to the interactive map?

The City is currently working on adding more zones to the map. These areas will give you a preview of what's to come. We hope that the map will provide you with a better understanding of our future plans. We encourage you to explore the map and familiarize yourself with the areas that will be included in the water meter replacement program.

Will an installer ever show up to my house without an appointment?

Installers will not show up at your door without a scheduled appointment. You can also ask to see the installer's identification, or call 1-833-926-2626 to confirm an installer's identity.

If you receive a call, or someone arrives at your door and you are unsure, do not book the appointment or let the person inside your home. Call our Service Centre at 1-833-926-2626 to confirm it is WAMCO’s staff.

If my schedule changes, is there a penalty if I have to cancel or reschedule my appointment?

No. Simply visit the booking site or call WAMCO toll free at 1-833-926-2626 to modify or cancel your appointment at no charge.

Will there be an interruption to my water service?

Yes, your water service will be temporarily interrupted during your appointment. A technician will turn off your water before the work begins and when the work is done, the technician will turn the water back on.

What is my account data being used for?

The data collected by this system is used for billing purposes. It is also being used for the City and property owner/occupant to determine consumption.

In the future: This can be viewed in the customer portal, with notifications to let you know when your set consumption point is reached and notify you of any potential leak detection.

Will my account information and meter data be secure?

Protecting your data is a top priority. Access to account information is restricted to authorized staff who need the data to perform important functions, including improved billing and customer service. The transmitter that sends your meter reading has a unique identifier that is transmitted along with the read data. This identifier is compared electronically to your account record to ensure that the meter reading matches the meter assigned to your account.

Why did I receive a final notice?

This is the final attempt to contact you about having this mandatory work done on your property. You are required to book an appointment with the City’s contractor WAMCO to gain access to your property to avoid non-compliance fees if the appointment is not carried out.

I received a reminder/final notice but I already booked an appointment. What should I do?

If you have already booked your appointment, please disregard the notice.

Does my water meter need additional maintenance?

The City of Kawartha Lakes maintains the water meter at no cost providing you take precautions not to damage it. Water meters typically do not require regular maintenance as they are designed to function for many years without any issues.