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WEIRTON -- An ongoing change in the meters used by the Weirton Area Water Board is expected to result in more accurate readings on the water usage of city residents.
During discussions at a recent informational council workshop and at Thursday’s water board meeting, officials received an update on the project, which is changing out existing meters with new radio-read meters.
“The groundwork was started about two years ago,” Utilities Director Butch Mastrantoni explained.
There are approximately 9,500 water meters in the city, many of which are between 12 and 15 years old. To obtain information for monthly billings, the water board takes readings on an alternating schedule, with half of the city checked one month and the other half the next month.
“Currently, we take a reading every 60 days,” Mastrantoni said, noting residents are billed based on that reading for one month and based on an estimate for the next month.
This method results in fluctuations in the billing amounts.
With the new radio-read meters, however, Mastrantoni said the water board will be able to send crews out each month and get more accurate readings of water consumption.
“Within three days, we can harvest readings in the whole town,” Mastrantoni said. “Every bill will be generated on an actual reading.”
Mastrantoni has noted, however, there have been some instances where residents have not allowed crews -- represented by the Weirton Area Water Board, James White Construction and Vanguard Utility Service -- onto their property to install the new meters.
He explained, while the board doesn’t want to take any extreme action during this project, the meters do belong to the Weirton Area Water Board, and if crews are not allowed to access the meters, water service can be shut off.
“At the end of the day, they need to be changed,” he said.
Notices have been sent to residents in attempts to schedule the installations at their convenience, according to officials.
The installation of the new meters, as of Thursday morning, is approximately half-way completed.
“We’re hoping to be done no later than May,” Mastrantoni said.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)