20.5°C Not observed 
After much controversy, water meter installation is now happening in North Lillooet. Corix Utilities, a local BC company, has been awarded the contract for the installation of approximately 250 water meters which have been predetermined to be installed either outside or inside residences. Work began on July 8 and is expected to conclude in mid-August.
According to the District’s letter handed to all residents of North Lillooet, the outside installation process takes approximately 1-3 hours but the water will only be off for about 15 minutes to a ˝ hour of that time while the connection is made. Irene Jefferies, Project Coordinator for Corix Utilities said the residents will be given warning when the water is about to be shut off.
Outside installation begins with the crew excavating at the property line where the water shut off valve is located. A five foot long cylinder containing the water meter is inserted and when completed the only visible part is the 12” steel pit lid.
Remediation occurs immediately although any necessary seeding will be done in cooler weather. “It actually looks better than before,” said Hollywood Crescent resident Michelle Gallon. “They took the weeds out and put rocks in.”
Inside installations will have the water meter installed where the water service enters the home, or according to Jefferies as close to the source as possible. A radio transmitter ensures that the meters can be read without anyone having to enter the home.
Beginning on Hollywood Crescent with three crews, Corix may eventually utilize up to five crews consisting of a machine operator and a helper. All the crews are made up of local residents and all will undergo a two day training course. The crews carry Corix Utilities photo ID and all vehicles and machinery are marked as Corix contractors. “We are very pleased to have been able to find such qualified contractors to carry out the work,” said Jefferies.
Corix has installed water meters throughout BC and Western Canada for many years. Current projects include the on-going installation of 40,000+ voluntary water meters in the City of Surrey, a three year program in the City of Castlegar, 600 meter installations in Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island, as well as meter installations in the Cedar Heights area for the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. The City of Regina project completed in 2006 saw the installation of 59,000 water meters. Corix has an on-going installation and meter reading contract for the City of Kelowna and various other meter reading programs throughout the Okanagan region. Jefferies says she is “pleased to be here, it is a very friendly town.” She says residents have been stopping and asking questions, and homeowners have been very interested and curious.
As of Friday morning, July 9, 10 meters had been installed and of those first ten three meters immediately indicated water leaks. “These meters will help to identify the leaks underground or in the home so the homeowner can act upon it ,” Jefferies said. “ Leaking taps and toilets can use up one cubic meter (220 gallons) of water in 24 hours.” Another meter registered a leak that consumed 3 cubic meters (660 gallons) of water in 1-1/2 hours.
According to the information guide from the District, this is Phase 1 of the District of Lillooet’s plan. The remainder of the homes in the District will have meters installed within the next five years and a rate structure will be devised once the bulk of the homes have commissioned meters. When these rates are set they will be based on consumption trends. Until then homeowners will remain on a flat rate.
