Nearly every home and business connected to the Pemberton water system will have a water meter installed by the end of 2026, according to a press release by the Village of Pemberton.
The Village of Pemberton and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District have secured a combined $5.1 million in grants from the B.C. Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs under the province’s Water Meter Pilot Project. The Village will receive $4.75 million, while the SLRD has been awarded $343,815.
A joint tender process will soon begin to select contractors for the work, covering residential and commercial properties connected to the Pemberton water system, including homes in the SLRD’s Pemberton North Water Service Area. The Village says advanced water meters will allow real-time monitoring by Village and property owners, helping detect leaks early, track usage accurately, and improve system efficiency.
“This project aligns strongly with our strategic priority to protect our environment and focus on sustainable, forward-thinking practices,” said Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman. “We can better manage our water supply, help residents understand their use, and deliver on our conservation goals.”
SLRD Board Chair Jen Ford echoed the sentiment, calling water conservation critical to the region’s climate action plan. “Implementing universal water metering supports responsible stewardship of one of our most limited resources,” she said.
The province has committed $50 million this year for pilot water metering programs across B.C., focusing on helping smaller communities evaluate the benefits of universal metering. In Pemberton, data from the new meters will be collected over six years to inform long-term planning, though officials say it won’t affect current billing practices.
The project remains in the early planning phase, with installation expected to begin later this year.
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