City Marks Successful Completion of Water Meter Replacement and Upgrade Project

The City of Greater Sudbury has successfully completed its Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) initiative, a multi-year project to replace and upgrade the water meters in every home and business in the city. The initiative, which began in June 2019, has been instrumental in upgrading the city's water metering system, enhancing customer service and achieving significant cost savings and operational efficiencies.

"Modernizing our water metering system not only improves the accuracy and reliability of water billing, but also gives residents enhanced insight to better manage their water usage and save on costs," said Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre. “This project is a critical step in advancing our water and wastewater technology and aligns with our commitment to efficient and sustainable service delivery.” 

 Key Improvements and Benefits:

• Customer Service: The AMI project has eliminated estimated water bills, providing billing based solely on actual metered data. A monthly billing cycle based on real-time measurements ensures accurate and timely bills for residents.
• Real-Time Data Access: Customers now have access to a user-friendly portal where they can monitor their water consumption in real time and create customized alerts for high usage or leaks.
• Operational Efficiencies: The project has eliminated manual water meter readings and expedited special water meter read requests, resulting in a more efficient and streamlined process.
• Environmental Impact: Improved water consumption data supports energy-efficient practices in the water treatment and distribution system, supporting climate change initiatives and the City's Community Energy and Emissions Plan.

The project was carried out in collaboration with several partners including Neptune Technology Group, KTI Utility Services and Diameter Services. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the efforts of City staff and partners resulted in the completion of 98.5 per cent of the planned meter installations.

The AMI system will provide critical data to help guide future projects, such as reducing water loss, identifying system issues and supporting the Water/Wastewater Master Plan.

For more information about the AMI project and its impact on the community, visit greatersudbury.ca/watermeter.