Faulder Water System - Grant for Water Meter Pilot

May 11, 2025

On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Province announced a water meter pilot grant as part of a larger water conservation initiative supporting 19 small, rural, and First Nation water systems across the province.  Faulder was one of the selected communities.

An open house hosted by the RDOS will be scheduled soon—likely before the summer break—so ratepayers can learn more, ask questions, and provide input. The RDOS will share the public information meeting date as soon as it’s confirmed.

In the meantime, here is some additional information with more to come.

Why Faulder Was Selected

Faulder was chosen based on several factors, including water conservation needs (concerns with the aquifer recharge) and the cost of treating the local water supply.

Due to these challenges, the province and the grant administrators identified Faulder as a strong candidate for this funding. The goal is to help communities like Faulder understand their system's unique challenges, manage water use, improve system efficiency, and reduce long-term costs.

Here are my thoughts,

It will come as no surprise to ratepayers that the Faulder Water System is complex and expensive. The presence of uranium in the groundwater requires additional treatment, making it more costly to produce safe, clean water than in many other communities.

Currently, all properties connected to the system pay the same flat parcel tax, regardless of how much water they use. As operating and treatment costs continue to rise, the only option under the current funding model is to raise the parcel tax for everyone, regardless of water use. RDOS staff recognize this system's financial challenges. Whenever possible, gas tax grants have helped fund essential repairs and upgrades to ease the burden on ratepayers. Faulder's small tax base makes building the reserves needed for long-term maintenance and upgrades challenging.

Installing water meters is a move to a usage-based system, where those who use more water pay more. As importantly, water metering is expected to become a requirement for accessing future provincial grants. This pilot project allows RDOS to install meters at no cost to ratepayers, helping the community prepare for future funding opportunities without raising current rates. 

Q&As that I have asked of RDOS staff:

Why the Province is supporting Water Meters

Water meters are a proven tool that can:

• Reduce water loss (up to 30% in similar communities)

• Help residents identify leaks and track usage

• Support long-term drought resilience

• Reduce costs related to pumping and treating water that’s ultimately lost

  
  

Protecting the Aquifer and Water Treatment System

By understanding how and where water is used—or lost— ratepayers can take meaningful steps to protect our aquifer and reduce the strain on their water system. This also helps us plan and prioritize infrastructure improvements more cost-effectively.

Long-Term Value to Ratepayers

With more efficient water use, the RDOS anticipates:

• Reduced operating and treatment costs

• Delayed or scaled-down infrastructure upgrades

• Better planning and cost control for future system needs

  
  

What Comes Next: Public Engagement

Before installing any meters, the RDOS will host a community meeting to share information, answer questions, and gather your feedback. Your input will help shape how the RDOS move forward.

Installation Timeline

The earliest possible start for installation would be late summer 2025, depending on contractor availability. To meet provincial funding deadlines (and keep the grant) the project must be completed by March 2027.

What Is Shadow Billing?

To help with the transition, the RDOS would introduce “shadow billing” for at least one year. This means you’d receive a monthly or quarterly statement showing what your charges would be under a metered system, without any actual billing changes. This helps residents understand their usage and adjust habits before any new rate structure is implemented.

Staff contact if you have more questions about the Faulder Water System or the grant.

Liisa Bloomfield, P.Eng. PMP ● Senior Manager of Public Works

p. 250-490-4229 ● tf. 1-877-610-3737 ● f. 250-492-0063

www.rdos.bc.ca ● Lbloomfield@rdos.bc.ca