How we read water meters remotely
Learn how the City of Waterloo reads water meters remotely for fast, accurate and reliable service.
On this page:
AMI Smart Point radios
All water meters connect to a system called Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Small AMI Smart Point radios send your water use directly to the city.
This means:
- no more manual readings or home visits
- faster detection of possible leaks or issues
- more accurate and timely billing
How smart radios work
Each AMI Smart Point radio sends a secure signal a few times a day. Base stations across the city, shared with Enova, receive the signal and send the data to the city’s system.
This helps us:
- track water use more accurately
- find and fix issues sooner
- keep your billing up to date
Radio safety
Smart Point radios use very low-power signals that last less than a second, only 6 times per day.
These signals are similar to AM or FM radio waves and are much weaker than cell phones or microwave signals.
According to Health Canada and the World Health Organization, these signals are far below safety limits and pose no known health risk.
Learn more on the Government of Canada's smart meters webpage.
Your data is secure
Your water meter data is encrypted before it’s sent over a secure wireless network.
We protect your information through:
- strong encryption, similar to online banking
- multiple layers of network security
- limited access – only authorized city staff can see billing information
- no personal data sent – only the meter reading and Smart Point number
Replacement fees
The City of Waterloo owns all AMI Smart Point radios.
Do not remove or tamper with your radio. If it’s damaged or removed, a replacement fee will be added to your water bill.
The fee for replacing an advanced meter reading unit is $266.00.
Contact us
If you have questions about the AMI upgrade or your water meter:
- call 519-886-2310
- email utilities@waterloo.ca