Toronto’s Water Meters are Failing Prematurely

Image credit: City of Toronto

Published on October 23, 2024

The city of Toronto is set to spend $5.6 million replacing 150,000 defective water meters equipped with remote reading technology. Originally installed between 2010 and 2012, these meters were expected to last 20 years but have begun failing after only 11 to 12 years due to issues with their lithium batteries. This has disrupted the meters’ ability to transmit water consumption data remotely.

The failure rate is significantly higher than expected, with 5,000 to 8,000 meters breaking down each month, far surpassing the normal 1% annual failure rate. The city plans to replace the remaining 470,000 meters within the next 3 to 5 years.

Residents have been frustrated by unexpectedly high water bills caused by estimated readings (instead of actual readings) based on faulty meters. Negotiations with the manufacturer, Aclara, are ongoing. The current $5.6 million replacement is being covered under a partial warranty, and the city is seeking approval for a broader agreement to replace the rest of the faulty meters.

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