Notice - Commercial Water Meter Survey. The City of Niagara Falls is working with
Neptune Technology Group to survey large, commercial water meters. This program is required under City By-Law 2024-033. There is no charge for this survey. Neptune will begin reaching out to affected property owners on behalf of the City.
If you receive a letter, please know it’s part of this official City initiative.
Learn more.
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In Niagara Falls, all property owners must have a water meter installed on any service pipe that brings water into a building. Here’s everything you need to know about your water meter, from where to find it to how it works.
Where to find your water meter
Your water meter is usually located in the basement along the front wall, where your main service line enters your home. Other common spots include:
- Basement washrooms
- Laundry rooms
- Utility or furnace rooms
How water meters work
Water meters track your water use in cubic meters. Inside the meter, a disk turns as water flows through, much like a car’s odometer. This movement measures the amount of water used.
Who owns the water meter and who maintains it?
- The water meter belongs to the City, but property owners pay for it through the initial installation or building permit
- Property owners must keep the meter in a safe environment and protect it from freezing or damage. If the meter freezes or is damaged because of misuse, the property owner has to pay for repairs or replacement
- The City maintains the water meters
Requesting a new, larger, or smaller water meter
- New meters: If you’re building a new home, your water meter is included with your building permit. Email a copy of the permit and receipt to [email protected], and staff will arrange the release within two weeks
- New meters not part of a permit: If the meter is not covered within the permit and/or receipt, you must email [email protected] with supporting engineered mechanical drawings that identify the incoming water line, the size and the location of the water meter
- Larger or smaller meters: If you want to change the size of an existing water meter, you’ll need to submit a formal application. Include engineered mechanical drawings that show the water line size and meter location. A fee applies
- Fees: For the latest fees, please refer to the City’s fee schedule under the Municipal Works section
Water meter technology
The City uses Neptune ProCoder Registers and R900 Endpoint units to measure and transmit water usage data securely.
- The ProCoder register tracks water consumption
- The R900 transmitter sends water usage data securely to a collection unit for billing
Key facts about transmitters
- Data is sent every hour in quick 0.25-second transmissions.
- Only the meter’s serial number and water consumption are transmitted – no personal data.
- Transmitters operate on a battery designed to last up to 20 years. If the battery dies o there’s an issue, the City will contact you for maintenance.
- Devices operate in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band (902 MHz to 928 MHz). They emit non-ionizing radiation, similar to TVs, radios, and remote controls.
For more details, check the Neptune product sheet.
High water bills? Check for leaks
A typical household uses about 10 cubic meters of water per person each month. If your water use seems high, you might have a leak.
Use our leak investigation pamphlet to help you investigate.
Water loss costs
Water pressure may vary throughout the City, however, using an average water pressure of 70 PSI (pounds per square inch), the following is an approximation of the amount of cubic meters lost, based on the size of a hole in your water service.
Note: One cubic meter = 1,000 litres, or approximately 264 US gallons.
Approximate water loss in cubic meters
| Size of hole | Cubic meters lost per hour | Cubic meters lost per day | Cubic meters lost per month | Cubic meters lost per year |
|---|
| 1/32" | 0.31 | 0.74 | 22.0 | 270.0 |
|---|
| 1/16" | 0.169 | 4.0 | 121.0 | 1,460.0 |
|---|
| 1/8" | 0.676 | 16.0 | 486.0 | 5,840.0 |
|---|
| 1/4" | 2.7 | 65.0 | 1,950.0 | 23,725.0 |
|---|
To calculate the above examples with today’s rates (2025), the following is an excerpt from the rates currently charged as per the Water By-law 2024-033 and the current Schedule of Fees.
Water consumption rates
Water: $1.433 per cubic meter
Sewer: $1.910 per cubic meter
Combined: $3.343 per cubic meter
For example, if you had a 1/32” hole somewhere in your service and lost 270 cubic meters per year, the dollar cost lost to you would look like this:
Water consumption 270 cubic meters x $1.433/m3 = $386.91
Sewer consumption 270 cubic meters x $1.910/m3 = $515.70
Estimated total lost dollars = $902.61
Leaks are costly, but an informed consumer saves money and is our best conservationist.
Water meter by-pass inspections
The City is inspecting water meters that are 1 inch or larger. For more details, visit our Water Meter By-Pass Inspections page.
Contact us
- All billing questions please call City Hall, Finance Department at 905-356-7521 x 4347 or [email protected].
- All water meter technical problems please contact Water & Wastewater Services at 905-356-7521 x 6300 or [email protected]
