Water Meters

The City began automatic billing from water meters using Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in the summer of 2016. Saskatoon Water is in the process of completing the remainder of AMI meter installations.  Learn more about the city-wide water meter upgrades.

Once your meter has a communication module added, your water bill will be based on what you use – no more estimates and meter readers will no longer need to access your property. 

Quarterly meter reads are no longer required with the AMI system. Meters are read daily to eliminate estimates. You can also monitor your water usage using the SmartUTIL software which is accessed from your My Utility Account. Read more about how smart meters work.

Leaky toilets are the biggest culprit for high water use bills!

Leaks in toilets have been found to be the biggest culprits in causing high water bills.   Often these leaks cannot be seen or heard.  What should you do? The best way to test for a leaking toilet is relatively easy. Place some food coloring in the back of the tank. DO NOT FLUSH THE TOILET. Wait several minutes and see if any of the food coloring shows in the toilet bowl, indicating a leak. If you have more than one toilet, dye test them all. 

To check for leaks: 

• Turn off valve, and if meter continues to move, there may be a valve or meter problem. 
• Turn off valve and if noise stops, you have a leak. 
• If you notice a wet spot in your yard, there may be an outside leak. 
• To determine whether water is leaking, be sure to turn off all water consumption devices, including humidifiers and other automatic water users.  Then, go down and look at your water meter.   On newer meter registers, there is a small red dial or triangle called a "leak detector" which spins when small amounts of water pass through the meter.   Is the little red dial spinning on your meter?   If so, you have a leak and that water is going somewhere.

No. All new and rebuilt meters are tested before they are installed. Meters are mechanical devices and as such wear with use. The wearing increases the internal tolerances thus allowing water to slip by either un-metered or partially metered. This creates an under registering ("slow") meter.

97% of all water meters in Saskatoon are now equipped with the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. Meters are read automatically and bills are based on usage, not estimates.

If you still have doubts about the accuracy of your water meter, you may contact a Corporate Revenue Customer Service representative at 306-975-2400 to request a meter test. The test can take 2-4 weeks to complete and if the meter passes, a test fee will be applicable.

Often homeowners with the standard (5/8") meter, when installing underground sprinklers, are advised by irrigation suppliers to upgrade the water meter to ¾" for greater flow capacity. The cost of plumbing alterations to accept the larger meter is at the home owner's expense as well as an added service charge for the larger than standard meter. The customer must apply to a Customer Service Representative by calling the phone number listed at the top of the page.  After taking the details, they will forward the request to the meter shop. The meter shop staff will provide any missing information and ask that the customer call for an appointment when the plumbing is complete.

The meter site must remain accessible having no permanent fixtures of any sort within 20 inches. The clear access is intended for meter removal, maintenance and troubleshooting. For all new and changed meters installed since mid 1995, tags are attached to remind owners of this requirement. See City Bylaw 7567.

You usually can find your water meter in the basement of your house, toward the front wall, either in the utility room or in a closet. Your water meter can also be a useful tool in determining if you have a leak problem. On newer meter registers, there is a small red dial or triangle. This dial is a "leak detector" and will spin when small amounts of water pass through the meter. To most accurately determine whether water is leaking, be sure to turn off all water consumption devices, including humidifiers and other automatic water users. Then, go down and look at your water meter. Is the little red dial spinning? If so, you have a leak and that water is going somewhere! Toilets are the most common culprits for a leak. Try the dye test listed under "How to Read Your Meter" (above)  to determine if that is your problem. If you are unable to locate your leak, call a plumber. It may save you money in the long run.

The City of Saskatoon will maintain the water meter and curb cock.  The homeowner is responsible for everything else.