The City of Toronto will begin a CAD 103 million (more than USD 75 million) programme in April 2026 to replace all 470,000 water meter transmission units (MTUs), accelerating a city-wide renewal effort following widespread premature device failures.
Toronto’s automated meter reading system was deployed between 2009 and 2015 as part of a broader modernisation of the Water Meter Program. The MTUs — manufactured by Aclara Technologies — were originally expected to operate for approximately 20 years. However, the City reports that the transmission units are failing earlier than anticipated, primarily due to battery depletion within the devices.
Approximately 70 per cent of MTUs across Toronto have already failed, and all remaining units are forecast to fail by September 2026. While the water meters continue to record consumption accurately, failed transmission units interrupt the automated flow of water use data required for billing.
City officials note that the issue is not unique to Toronto. Similar early MTU failures have been reported in municipalities across North America, including Moncton, New Brunswick; Somerville, Massachusetts; Canton and Middletown, Ohio; Asheville, North Carolina; Georgetown, Plano, and Houston, Texas; Melbourne, Florida; and San Francisco, California.
Despite the setback, Toronto reports that the automated metering network has generated an estimated CAD 350 million in operational savings since full implementation in 2015. Installation will be led by Neptune Technology Group, which oversaw the original rollout, with Aclara Technologies supplying compatible updated units, field programming tools and maintenance support for the devices.
The replacement programme is scheduled to continue through December 2028, with installation rates projected at up to 20,000 units per month.
