Halton Is Replacing Water Meters, With Oakville Up Next Year

Nobody will be walking up the driveway to read the water meter much longer. Halton Region is replacing aging meters with remote-reading technology that sends usage data automatically, and Oakville's pilot starts in late 2026, with the full rollout running through 2027.

Until now a meter reader has had to visit each property and collect readings from a touchpad outside the home or business, then pass them to the local hydro provider, which works out the water bill. The new setup, called Advanced Metering Infrastructure, collects those readings over a radio transmitter instead. The region says it will end in-person readings, cut vehicle trips through neighbourhoods, and flag unusual consumption that could point to a leak.

The work comes in two forms. A full meter replacement with a transmitter needs an appointment, takes 30 to 60 minutes, requires someone aged 18 or older at home, and shuts the water off for roughly 15 to 20 minutes. A transmitter-only install needs no appointment and usually goes outside, in the same spot as the existing touchpad.

There are no new fees. The project is funded through water rates and capital reserves. Transmitters send data six times a day in bursts lasting under a second, carrying meter readings, alerts and device IDs but no personal details, stored on secure servers in Canada for up to three years. Customers who decline a transmitter keep their water service, though the region says manual readings may be charged once the switch to remote reading is finished.

Halton has hired KTI Utility Services to do the work, and residents get a letter before crews reach their street. Schedules and a project map are on the Halton Region website, and anyone expecting a notice that has not arrived can call 311.