The village Water Department sent around 200 letters to residents and business owners asking that they make appointments to have new water meters installed or risk having their water service shut off.
Of 1,475 total, 1,225 have been installed by the contractor, Vanguard, since November. The village had hoped to have installations complete last week.
The meters are similar to those installed in the Glasco Water District beginning in summer 2013, which were the subject of some public opposition because they use wireless technology that can be read remotely from a passing vehicle. The town still has 400 left to install of a total of 1800. The town has continued to read the old meters on foot.
Water Department Superintendent Mike Hopf said the water customers who received letters had all received a post card and no fewer than three door tags asking them to schedule an appointment. Hopf said those customers should contact the water department (246-2321 ext. 5) to make an appointment “or at least explain why they can’t have the meter done at this time.”
The village will be out reading meters this week or next.
“Any old meter will have to be manually read, and manually inputted into the billing system,” Hopf added.
The meter replacement is part of a $1.5 million efficiency project, which also includes new boilers and windows in village buildings and new LED streetlights on the old-fashioned fixtures in the business district.
An energy audit conducted by Johnson Controls, with whom the village contracted, found that existing meters were inaccurate and the new meters will pick up more water use. Officials estimate the new meters will bring in $14,000 per year in additional revenue.
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