Close Alert Banner

Living Here Background image

Skip to Content

City of Kenora Logo

Contact Us
Contact Us
  • Living Here
    • Accessibility and Inclusion
    • Animal Services
    • Building and Renovating
    • Cemetery
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Emergency Services and Preparedness
    • Environment
    • Healthcare
    • Libraries
    • Parking
    • Property Taxes
    • Recycling and Garbage
    • Roads and Traffic
    • Seniors Services
    • Social Services
    • Transit
    • Utilities
    • Water and Sewer
  • Visit & Play
    • Recreation Centre
    • Admission and Membership
    • Advertising and Sponsorships
    • Amenities
    • Aquatics and Swimming
    • Arenas and Skating
    • Camps
    • Community Organizations
    • Facilities and Rentals
    • Fitness
    • Parking at Arenas
    • Visit Kenora
    • Beaches, Trails and Parks
    • Boating
    • Community Calendar
    • Outdoor Adventure
    • Plan your Trip
    • See and Do
    • Arts and Culture
    • Art Centre
    • Art Organizations
    • Heritage and History
    • Libraries
    • Powwows
    • Museums
    • Volunteer
  • Build & Invest
    • Building and Renovating
    • Business Licences and Permits
    • Community Improvement Plans
    • Current and Active Projects
    • Economic Development
    • Economic Profile and Data
    • Maps
    • Physician and Healthcare Professional Recruiting
    • Planning and Development
    • Start or Expand Your Business
    • Tenders and Request For Proposals
  • Your Government
    • A-Z Services
    • Accessibility and Inclusion
    • Agenda and Minutes
    • Applications, Licences and Permits
    • Budget and Finances
    • By-laws and Enforcement
    • Citizen Recognition Award
    • Committees and Boards
    • Elections
    • Freedom of Information
    • Jobs
    • Mayor and Council
    • Plans Studies and Reports
    • News and Notices
    • Policies
    • Provincial Offences
    • Tenders and Request For Proposals
  • I Want To
    • Apply and Register
    • Building Permits
    • Business Licences and Permits
    • Burning Permits
    • Dog Licences
    • Marriage Licences and Ceremonies
    • Road Permits
    • Pay
    • Bag Tags
    • Fines and Traffic Tickets
    • Ice Candles
    • Parking
    • Property Taxes
    • Water Bill
    • Get Involved
    • Mayor and Council
    • Environment
    • Presenting to Council
    • Run for Council
    • Volunteer
    • Work for the City of Kenora
City of Kenora Logo

Reading Your Water Meter

HomeLiving HereWater and SewerReading Your Water Meter
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

You are encouraged to know where your water meter is located and to check it regularly to make sure it is working properly. This will help to make sure your water usage is correct on your water bill from the City of Kenora.

Locating your water meter

A residential water meter is most often located in the basement, if you have one, or the lower level.

Access to the meter

It is your responsibility to keep a clear path to the water meter and adjoining shut-offs at all times.

The water meter has an outside water-meter reading device called a “remote-reader”. The Meter Reader scans the remote-reader to take the water reading. It is important that the remote-reader be kept accessible at all times, especially winter months, for regular readings. Keep a path clear of debris, snow and ice.

Reading the water meter

The sweep hand (shown in the picture) measures water use in cubic meters. Odometer readings are to the nearest tenth of a cubic meter.

One complete rotation of the sweep hand is equal to 0.1 m3 (100 L) of water used; therefore, an odometer reading of 23.1 m3 is equal to 23,000 L.

The flow indicator spins when water is flowing through the meter.

Water meter reads in cubic meters (m3), and similar to a vehicle odometer displays the total consumption to the nearest tenth of a cubic meter.

average residential water meter with part labels

Measuring water consumption

Water flowing through the water meter is measured in cubic meters (m3). You water bill is based on your water consumption.

Tracking water usage

  1. Record an initial reading by writing down the number displayed on the odometer display at time t1.
  2. To calculate the consumption over a set period of time, return to the meter and write down the final reading at t2.
  3. Subtract the final meter reading from the initial reading to determine how much water your household has used during the time. For example: 1 cubic meter (cm3 ) = 1,000 litres (L)

two tables showing initial and final water meter readings

Finding water leaks

  1. Turn off all appliances that use water in your household, including automatic devices like humidifiers and ice machines;
  2. Take a water meter reading at night, followed by another reading in the morning; and

If the number has changed, you likely have a water leak.

  1. You will need to hire a plumber immediately. Water consumption is the homeowners responsibility even in the event of a leak.
  2. Keep the leaking appliance off so it does not draw any more water until repairs can be done. This will minimize additional consumption and keep your water bill from rising.

Water rate calculation

The rate you pay for water is a combined water and sewer cost based on your water consumption plus a flat meter charge, depending on the meter size.

It looks like this:

  • Amount of water consumption X the per cm3 meter amount + the flat monthly meter charge X 100% of your water cost for sewer charges.

This is a user-pay system. This calculation provides the City with enough money to:

  • produce treated water from the Water Treatment Plant and process sewer at the Wastewater Treatment Plant; and
  • operate and maintain the municipal water and wastewater systems, including water quality testing, fire hydrant maintenance, system repairs, upgrades and replacements.

If you need help with your water services account, please contact Customer Service at 807-467-2000.

Most important reasons to read your meter

  • To monitor daily and monthly usage
  • To detect water leaks
  • To conserve water
  • To save money
Living Here
  • Water and Sewer
    Toggle Section Water and Sewer Menu
    • Paying Your Water Bill
    • Reading Your Water Meter
    • Service Connections
    • Treatment Facilities
    • Water Account Setup
    • Water Delivery
    • Water Stations
    • Watermain Breaks
  • View Full Living Here Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Accessibility and Inclusion
      Toggle Section Accessibility and Inclusion Menu
      • Accessible Parking
      • Handi Transit
    • Animal Services
      Toggle Section Animal Services Menu
      • Deer Management
      • Dog Licences
      • Stray Pets
      • Wildlife
    • Building and Renovating
    • Cemetery
      Toggle Section Cemetery Menu
      • Ice Candles
      • Walking Tours
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Emergency Services and Preparedness
      Toggle Section Emergency Services and Preparedness Menu
      • Ambulance
      • Fire Services
        Toggle Section Fire Services Menu
        • About Us
        • Burning Permits
        • Fire Inspections
        • Fire Prevention and Public Safety
        • Fire Stations and Vehicles
        • Paid On Call Firefighter Recruitment
      • First Aid Training
      • Lake of the Woods Search and Rescue
      • Womens Shelter
    • Environment
      Toggle Section Environment Menu
      • Adopt a Block and Clean Leaf Programs
      • Blue-green Algae
      • International Watershed
      • Plans Studies and Reports
      • Releasing Helium Balloons
    • Healthcare
    • Libraries
    • Parking
      Toggle Section Parking Menu
      • Accessible Parking
      • Provincial Offences
      • Veterans Plate Parking
    • Property Taxes
      Toggle Section Property Taxes Menu
      • Paying Property Taxes
      • Tax Certificates
      • Tax Sales
      • Unincorporated Properties
    • Recycling and Garbage
      Toggle Section Recycling and Garbage Menu
      • Bag Tags
      • Christmas Tree Recycling
      • Coney Island Lake Collection
      • Household Hazardous Waste
      • Leaf and Yard Waste Composting
      • Recycling
      • Waste Transfer Facility
    • Roads and Traffic
      Toggle Section Roads and Traffic Menu
      • Adopt a Block and Clean Leaf Programs
      • Parking
      • Road Maintenance
      • Road Permits
      • Roundabout
      • Snow Removal
      • Weight and Load Limits
    • Seniors Services
    • Social Services
    • Transit
      Toggle Section Transit Menu
      • Bus Routes
      • Handi Transit
    • Utilities

Contact Us

Your Government
1 Main Street South
Kenora ON P9N3X2
Phone: 807-467-2000
After Hours: 807-467-2080
Email Us


Operations Customer Service
Operations Centre
60 Fourteenth Street North
Kenora, Ontario P9N 4M9
Hannah Love 807-467-2097
Email this contact
Map this location

Subscribe to Page Updates

City of Kenora footer logo

Your Government
1 Main Street South
Kenora ON P9N3X2
Phone: 807-467-2000
After hours: 807-467-2080

  • A-Z Services
  • Accessibility and Inclusion
  • Freedom of Information
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Podcast

© 2020 The Corporation of the City of Kenora

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.