The District of Saanich is beginning a five‑year program to upgrade water meter‑reading equipment at approximately 30,000 properties, installing an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system intended to enable remote reads, earlier detection of unusual water use and improved information for customers and planners.
What the change means for residents
Work is scheduled to begin in late 2026 and will proceed in phases. The District estimates it will upgrade about 6,000 meter locations each year, with most individual upgrades taking around 45 minutes. According to Saanich, crews will usually be able to complete the work without residents needing to be home because most meters sit inside accessible meter boxes and water service will remain on during the visit.
- Scope: ~30,000 properties across Saanich.
- Schedule: Five years, starting late 2026; ~6,000 upgrades per year.
- Typical visit: About 45 minutes; most work at meter box; water left on.
Why Saanich is switching to AMI
District officials say the current meters and reading equipment are aging, becoming less reliable and in some cases incompatible with modern technologies. The new AMI system allows remote meter reads, which the District says will provide timelier water‑use information and help identify unusual consumption that could indicate leaks.
“This is an important investment in the infrastructure that supports reliable water service for our community,” said Harley Machielse, director of Engineering for the District of Saanich. “The new system will give us more timely information to support customer service, billing and long‑term water‑system planning.”
District staff also noted Saanich is among the first municipalities on Vancouver Island to adopt AMI, signalling a shift toward more automated monitoring of water networks. The new data could influence how the municipality monitors demand peaks, schedules repairs and plans capital investments.
How the work will be carried out and paid for
The work will be undertaken by a contractor, KTI Utility Services, with some tasks to be completed by District staff. Funding for the entire project will come from Saanich’s Water Capital Budget. The District says in rare cases crews may determine the meter itself needs replacement; if access to private property or a short water interruption is required, residents will receive advance notice.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total properties to be upgraded | ~30,000 |
| Upgrades per year | ~6,000 |
| Typical duration per upgrade | ~45 minutes |
Local consequences and considerations
For residents this project promises more timely billing information and faster identification of leaks, which can mean reduced water loss and potentially lower repair costs for households that would otherwise experience undetected leaks. For the District, remote reads may reduce staff time spent on manual reads and improve the quality of data used for long‑range water‑system planning.
Operationally, most residents should expect minimal disruption. The District’s timeline and staged approach aim to limit inconvenience, though individual properties may receive direct notice if a short water interruption or access to private property is necessary.
As Saanich moves to AMI, questions commonly raised in other municipalities — including data handling, privacy and how new consumption data will be used in billing or conservation programs — will likely surface among residents. The District has not announced additional programs linked to AMI data, beyond improved customer service and planning capabilities.
Residents looking for details about timing for their neighbourhood or about notification procedures should monitor District communications. The rollout marks a significant technical upgrade to Saanich’s water infrastructure and will be among the most extensive meter modernization efforts on Vancouver Island.
