Major Water Savings from Universal Metering Program

At the October 23 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) shared an update on the success of its Universal Water Meter Installation Program, highlighting significant water savings and improved drought resilience across the region.

Initiated in 2013 as part of the Comprehensive Regional Water Plan, the Universal Metering Program was designed to address long-term water supply challenges through intensive demand management. With Phase 3 nearing completion in the District of Sechelt, 4,033 of 4,424 meters have been installed — averaging nine installations per day.

Key project milestones include:

• Major Leak Repairs: Between September 2024 and August 2025, the SCRD resolved major leaks that saved approximately 345 million litres of water every day — enough to meet the daily needs of over 1,200 new homes. That’s the equivalent of saving a little more than half an Olympic-sized swimming pool every single day, or more than 195 Olympic pools per year.
• Water Literacy Impact: Properties participating in the Monthly Water Use Update program reduced their water use by an average of 11% after one year of receiving personalized data. Residents can sign up to track their own water use at scrd.ca/water-use.
• Drought Management Benefits: Thanks to detailed meter data, the South Pender Water System was able to avoid escalating to Stage 3 water conservation regulations this year. Meanwhile, the Chapman Water System saved more than 1.1 million litres per day during the peak summer months — equivalent to nearly half an Olympic pool every day.
• Future Savings Potential: Early readings from newly installed meters in Sechelt suggest future savings of up to one million litres per day on the Chapman Water System — that’s about 146 Olympic pools per year in potential conservation.

Once complete, universal metering will enable volumetric billing for over 11,000 properties, improving transparency and encouraging responsible water use. Meter data will also support future water efficiency planning and infrastructure decisions.

The SCRD will continue to communicate with residents about leak detection and water-saving opportunities through direct mail, social media, and future updates.

For more information about the Universal Water Metering Program, visit letstalk.scrd.ca/water-metering