--- City of Gatineau will install new water meters to better monitor water consumption over next three years

Jordan Gowling

On January 19, the City of Gatineau has committed to installing over 500 water meters per year in businesses and institutions over the next three years, in an effort to reduce the consumption of drinking water. 

The installation of the new water meters is also a part of the city’s compliance with the Stratégie québécoise d'économie d'eau potable (SQEEP), led by the province’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Quebec remains the largest consumer of water in the world, and the quantity of water distributed per person remains greater than the rest of Canada.

The city will provide a water meter to all owners of buildings covered under By-law 252-700, which regulates the installation and maintenance of water meters in businesses, office buildings and institutions. The province will provide close to $2.7 million to Gatineau over the new three years for maintenance and costs associated with the new installations. 

The city will also take a look at residential consumption over the same period of time, by sectoring four residential neighbourhoods in Gatineau and analysing data in order to obtain more reliable consumption estimates. This particular project will enable the city to improve efficiencies with water consumption, in line with its Water Management Plan, which was adopted in 2017. 

The current provincial target of drinking water is set at 458 litres per person, a day. Gatineau is well below the target with 367 litres per person daily.