Metering
Tied to price increases, metered households generally show reductions in water use, with the greatest savings occurring during the summer months, when water use is usually much higher due to frequency of lawn watering, car washing and other outdoor uses. In 1999, water use was 70% higher when consumers faced flat rates rather than volume-based rates. And yet, only about 56% of Canada's urban population was metered in 1999.
Metering of industry has been common for some time. What's new is the metering of the return flow to the sewer system, particularly as it relates to the industrial sector. Case studies show that including sewage treatment in rate calculations generates greater water savings. An increasing number of municipalities are applying sewer surcharges to residential water bills.
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