City-wide water metering in the works for Revelstoke
A plan by the City of Revelstoke to introduce city-wide water metering after splitting utility invoices from property taxes is tied to efforts to reduce water use.
The city says it is regularly asked to act in a more environmentally friendly way. Water meters are a step towards this, and also provide a more equitable method of paying based on use.
At its regular meeting on February 13, Revelstoke city council approved a recommendation from the public infrastructure committee for staff to prepare a report on implementing a city wide water metering program.
Councillor Austin Luciow, who sits on the committee, said water metering has been a strategic priority with an interest in looking towards industrial and commercial metering to start. Roll out of the program to residential properties would take place at a later time.
“Past that there’s obviously no budget in the 2024 budget cycle for this, but getting the plan in place to roll this out across the community and to consider this into the 2025 budgeting cycle for residential,” said Luciow.
Director of engineering Steve Black said recommendation for the metering program came due to water restrictions put in place last year.
“Given the low snowfall and snow pack that we’ve seen this year, it is becoming more and more critical to be proactive in this nature,” said Black.
Black also clarified that staff would come back to council with a program, a plan, implementation schedule, and a budget for consideration.
In a follow up with Stoke FM, Black said in preparation for the roll out of the initiative, all new industrial, commercial and institutional properties are required to install water meters. Water meter installation will also become a requirement for residential builds.
The city is currently in the process of acquiring the software necessary to read the meters.
The city currently has some metered businesses. These include CPKC housing, Mackenzie Village, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, the Stoked Living subdivision, one local farm initiative, as well as some other condo and townhome projects. Next steps include having all new properties install meters. Once staff have presented its report to city council for direction, the city can then proceed with funding and an implementation plan. The city also hopes to roll out some preliminary metering and billing to better understand the complexities of this new system.
In early February, the city held a public information session on short term rentals at the Revelstoke Community Centre. The event saw more than 100 people attend in person and nearly 200 attend online. There were more than 130 questions submitted, including one which asked how the city would ensure people who are renting suites are paying extra for utilities.
In its response, the city said this can be done by separating property taxes and utility fees and water metering for all properties.
City staff told Stoke FM that currently, legal basement suites pay an additional 60 per cent in utilities to account for the second dwelling. Under the current system, rates are not differentiated based on dwelling size. Once water metering comes into effect, each home would be billed based on actual water use.
Water meters were identified in the city’s 2022 Water Master Plan as being useful for “reducing water consumption as well as providing environmental benefit.”
Revelstoke remains under year-round watering restrictions.
