The Town of Olds is looking to replace water meters town-wide over the next few years in an effort to reduce leaks in homes and improve the accuracy of meter readings.
The project kicked off with a pilot project that saw the installation of 100 Kamstrup-brand smart water meters, which Town of Olds CAO Brent Williams says has already shown success in identifying any shortcomings in the current system.
“It’s shown very successful results in both in terms of accuracy of readings – we’re showing discrepancies that demonstrates the old meters were reading incorrectly, and plus with leak detection technology, so when people have leaks either in their home or in our system nearby, it gives us that little alert,” he says.
The town hosts around 4,000 water meters in total, with approximately 3,000 of them being more than 15 years old – something CAO Williams says has resulted in “substantial” effects in water loss.
“ What we’re trying to do in phase one is replace approximately 600 residential meters, in select areas of town with the new technology in the Kamstrup meters,” he says. “We’re proposing to increase the number from 600 to perhaps as much as 1,200 in 2025, just because we’re seeing so many substantial effects in terms of our water loss because the old meters, again, were not reading accurately.”
“ The new meters are showing us that in fact we are losing perhaps up to 10%, through just inaccurate readings, so timeline, we could install 1,200 meters by probably early Fall if we’re able to get the contractor – not activated, but given we have about 4,500 meters in town, and again, 3000 plus, we’re looking to change out, it’s probably a three to four year process,” he adds.
Williams maintains that part of this process is compliance from residents, so cooperating with contractors will be critical in completing the project efficiently.
“ The town does own that infrastructure and as part of connecting to our town water system, we have to be able to maintain that infrastructure, so it is in our water bylaw that the town is able to, with proper notice, enter premises and change out the water meters,” he says. “We’re getting good compliance right now, but some people are hesitant, so we’re trying to work with them on sharing some better information on this process and what they can expect when a contractor calls them books an appointment and shows up to their house.”
Williams says in addition to the meter replacements, the hope is the town will review its utility rates by at least 2026.
