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Water Meter Change Out Program

The Public Services Department may be working in your neighborhood soon.  City employees are converting all residential water meters to electronic read meters.  The reason for this change is efficiency.  Currently, with most meters, the meter reader must write the reading on a sheet of paper, turn the paper into the billing office, and then the readings must be entered into the computer manually.  This is a very time consuming process.

With the new electronic meter reading system, all necessary customer account information is downloaded, in a specific order, into a handheld meter reading device.  The meter reader can now take the handheld, walk up to a house, touch the handheld to the touchpad on the outside of the house, pull the trigger, and the meter reading is automatically stored in the handheld.  When all the accounts in the handheld have been read, all of the readings are automatically downloaded into the billing computer.  Then, the computer calculates the bill and prints it.

Although converting all the meters will take a couple years to complete, once completed, reading meters every month will be much faster and almost error free.

Note: Meter change outs must occur while the resident or a friend or relative is home.  A city employee does not have the authority to enter a household without someone home.  Appointments for change-outs are handled through City Hall and are scheduled during normal Public Works business hours.  To schedule an appointment, contact City Hall at 772-7657.

Also -- as these meters are converted, it is necessary to close both valves on either side of the meter in order to remove the meter.  These valves were purchased and installed by the owner of the house or building and must be maintained by the owner.  These valves should not leak when they are closed or opened.  If the valves have not been operated (opened and closed) in years, you probably should have them replaced or at least have the packing replaced in them because they may leak when we come in to convert the meter.  The City is responsible for only our meters, not the valves on either side of the meter.  If a leak should occur, it is the responsibility of the owner to repair the valve(s).

If you have any questions regarding the meter change-out program, please call City Hall at 772-7657.