New Water-Monitoring Program Could Save 1.5 Billion Litres Annually

The Province will soon be installing new water meters to help smaller communities save water and increase resiliency during droughts.

“Drinking water is an incredibly precious resource,” said Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities.

“Small and rural communities in B.C. face higher financial and management capacity challenges, and water metering helps communities identify leaks, conserve drinking water, and keep costs down for businesses and residents.”

Nineteen small, rural and First Nations communities will benefit from nearly 15,000 new automated water meters that will be installed.

The Province says the $50-million investment will help communities have a better understanding of the amount of water that is used, helping to save up to 1.5 billion litres of water each year.

According to the Government’s numbers, that’s the equivalent of a day’s worth of drinking water for 750 million people, 37.5 million showers or washing 30 million loads of laundry.

The meters are part of a pilot program to help small communities and local water suppliers track and manage water use and mitigate the impact of drought.

Once installed, the meters can help reduce water use by up to 30%, which would mean more water stays in rivers and lakes to support fish and ecosystems, with less money spent on building new water systems.

BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee, on behalf of the First Nations Leadership Council, says it’s a much needed and welcomed initiative for First Nations in rural and remote communities who continue to grapple disproportionately with the rippling effects of the climate crisis, and who also face water scarcity in their territories.

He says with increasingly frequent droughts occurring throughout B.C., continued and sustained investments from the Province is vital to support First Nations with watershed security through data collection, monitoring and management.”

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.