The following are the most commonly requested rates. You can call the Corporate Services Department for any that are not listed here or view the Rate Bylaw. Billings are bi-monthly.

Utility Rate Bylaw

What is a Water Meter?

Water meters are tools used by utilities to accurately measure consumption of water for billing purposes, but they can also be an empowering tool for consumers to manage usage and their utility bills. Being mindful of your household’s water consumption can provide valuable insights into fine-tuning usage patterns that will help you save both water and money.

Where to find your meter?

In many Canadian homes, the water meter is in the basement. They are generally found near the floor where the main water line enters the home and downstream from the home’s main shut-off valve. The meter measures and displays the consumption of water on a digital register. Most utilities bill to the cubic meter, which is the unit directly to the left of the decimal.

Reasons to locate and read your water meter?

• Monitoring how much water is used in your household. Tracking water usage can contribute to overall sustainability, budgeting, and realizing your home's water conservation goals.
• Identifying wasteful and costly water leaks. Learning how your meter works and using it to monitor for leaks in and around your property is a valuable tool in identifying and correcting some otherwise difficult-to-detect plumbing issues.

• Understanding Your Water Meter
• Water & Utility Tips from the Town
• Badger Meter User Manual
• How to Save Water in your Home

Leaks can range in size. A small stream of water from a faucet can waste 15 cubic metres (m3) per month. If the water level in a toilet tank is too high and overflowing into the overflow tube, or the flapper is completely lifted, it can waste 1,200 m3 per month.

Step 1)

• Is there a leak? Your water meter can help you check!
• Turn off all fixtures that use water inside and outside your home.
• NOTE: Make sure no one is using water in the home. Do not turn off the main valve that connects your property to the Town water supply.
• Find the water meter. It is located where your water service enters your home. This is most often in the basement.
• Is the flow indicator – which may look like a triangle, gear or needle – still turning?
• If YES, you have a water leak somewhere in your home. Go to step 2.
• If NO, there is no water leak in your home.

Step 2) Find The Leak

• Always check for toilet leaks first – they are the #1 source of water leaks.
• Drop – Put several drops of food coloring into the toilet tank and wait 10 minutes. You can also use coffee or toilet bowl cleaner.
• Peek – Look in the bowl. If the water changes color, you have got a leak.
• Repair – Toilet leaks can be caused by faulty gaskets, flappers that do not close or high-water levels in the toilet tank.
• If the Source of the leak is not a toilet, check all water fixtures inside and outside your home
  • Indoor Leaks
    • Water softener
    • Air conditioner
    • Hot water tank
    • Faucets
    • Humidifier
    • Dishwasher
    • Bathtubs & Showers
    • Refrigerator
    • Water Dispenser/ice maker
  • Outdoor Leaks
    • Outdoor taps
    • Irrigation system
    • Fountain or water feature
    • Water service line

If you are still unsure if you have a water leak in or outside your home, contact a certified plumber to request a complete inspection.

Water Savings and Leak Prevention

Winter Averaging is in effect from May to October each year and is turned off at the beginning of November each year.

What is Winter Averaging, and how does it work?

The sewer consumption amount charged on every 2-month utility invoice will be for the actual water used during the months of November through April.

In the summer months, sewer consumption amounts charged for May through October will be an average of what was used from November through April. This may provide a reduction in sewer consumption amounts if residents are watering gardens and lawns during warmer/dryer months. This winter average is only applied to sewer consumption if more water is used in the May to October months than is usually used in the winter months of November through April.

In the above example, Code A is actual consumption. The winter water consumption amounts, in cubic meters (m3), were:

• Nov-Dec 2020 Utility Invoice: 24 m3
• Jan-Feb 2020 Utility Invoice: 25 m3
• Mar-Apr 2020 Utility Invoice: 24 m3
• Making an average of 24.6 m3

This average is then applied to the May through October invoices at 24.6 m3. In the example below, only 23 cubic meters was charged to the Sep-Oct 2021 Utility Invoice, and this is due to the actual consumption of 23 m3 being lower than the winter average amount of 24.6 m3. So, the lower of the two is charged to the sewer portion of the invoice.

As a reminder to residents: the Nov-Dec 2021 invoice will have the full actual water amount used for both water and sewer consumption.

Finding Water Leaks

Leaks are a slow and steady way to waste thousands of litres of water. Luckily, you can fix many household plumbing problems yourself.

Leaking water pipes, faucets, and toilets can be an expensive problem. Frozen pipes can be a nightmare. Here are some tips for preventing these problems and ideas for dealing with water pipe issues if they occur.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

• If you leave for the winter, turn off the main shut-off valve to your water supply and drain your faucets.
• Disconnect all garden hoses and wrap all outdoor faucets with rags, newspaper or insulating material. Cover with plastic or other material to prevent moisture from getting inside.
• Cover foundation vent holes to keep your crawl space warmer.
• During freezing spells, keep a trickle of water running from your indoor faucets to prevent the pipes from freezing. A small trickle of water will cost you a few extra cents a day and save you the huge cost of repairing frozen pipes and dealing with water damage.
• Insolate any exposed pipes. Use heat tape if necessary.
• If you're leaving home for a few days, keep your heating system turned on and set to a low temperature so that some heat is available to keep pipes from freezing.

Preventing Water Leaks and Frozen Pipes

Policy Statement:

Water Utility Billing Anomalies happen when a resident, business, or property owner experiences an abnormal and unexplained bill for a single billing period. The Town, at the formal request of the resident, Business, or Property Owner, agrees to adjust the water utility bill to the amount equal to the average bi-monthly water consumption of the previous two years.

What is an Anomaly?

An anomaly is defined (for the purpose of this policy) as any utility billing which reflects water consumption that is a minimum of three (3) times the amount consumed during the previous two years' peak billing period.

What is the peak billing period?

Peak is defined (for the purpose of this policy) as the highest water consumption in one billing cycle where the resident, property owner, or business has occupied the billed unit/property for at least three complete billing cycles.

Reason for Policy:

This policy reflects the Town Council’s desire to treat all residents, businesses, and property owners in a fair and equitable manner. This is designed to provide staff with clear guidelines for the treatment of unusually large and unexplained water utility bills.

Water Utility Billing Anomalies Policy

All connections to Town of High River underground services, including sanitary sewer, stormwater drainage, and the potable water distribution system, must be inspected and approved by the Utilities Division. What you need to know:

• A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required for inspection requests. Contact Public Works at 4036.652.4657 for more.
• Inspection fees may apply.
• An occupancy permit will not be issued until both a Trench Inspection and a Water Meter Inspection are completed and approved.
• Any changes to the location of underground services or the water meter must be approved in writing by the Town of High River.

A trench inspection is required before any backfilling or foundation work begins.

• Applies to all new connections to potable and/or domestic water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater systems.
• A camera inspection of existing sanitary or stormwater services may be necessary to assess the condition of the infrastructure.
• Repairs identified during camera inspection must be completed before final inspection approval.

Installation Requirements:

Potable / Domestic Water Supply:

• Pipes must be sized to meet demand.
• Approved materials: PEX/Municipex rated at a minimum of 150 psi.
• Use compression fittings only.
• Bedding must follow the Town’s General Engineering and Construction Specifications and be completed before inspection.

Sanitary Sewer:

• Pipe sizing must meet the demand
• Approved materials: Schedule 40 PVC or ABS, full length.
• A minimum grade of 2% must be maintained.
• Bedding must be in place before inspection, in accordance with Town specifications.

Stormwater Drainage:

• Stormwater must not be discharged into the sanitary sewer system.
• Approved materials: Schedule 40 PVC or ABS, full length.
• Minimum 2% grade required.
• Bedding must be completed before inspection in accordance with Town specifications.

• Material size: 20 mm to 40 mm
• Minimum 150 mm of bedding below and 200 mm above service pipes running into the property.

All properties connected to the potable water system must have an approved water meter installed with correct piping, valves, and remote reading components. Refer to the Water Meter Installation Specifications for full requirements.

Inspection is Required When:

• A new water meter is installed.
• A meter has been unsealed due to repair or renovation.
• Water service has been disconnected and is being reconnected.

An inspection fee may apply. An occupancy permit will not be issued until the Water Meter Inspection is approved.

• The Town may conduct additional inspections to verify meter function and plumbing connections, providing prior notice.
• Tampering with, bypassing, or refusing inspection of water meters may result in termination of services at the discretion of Public Works and Protective Services.

• Email: Publicworks@highriver.ca
• Phone: 403.652.4657