Thirty years ago the Lincoln Water System began a meter replacement project that enabled the meter readers to walk up to the side or front of a house to get a reading from a remote device. This replaced the need to knock on the doors and go to the basement to get a reading. This increased the efficiency of the meter readers, and reduced the number of estimated bills. Today, four meter readers read all 74,000 meters once every two months.
The life expectancy of a meter at a given installation is 15 to 20 years. Some of the meters are wearing out, the wiring connecting the meter to the remote device is being damaged or broken, and the remote readers are failing. These situations have caused some customers to get inaccurate bills. When the problem is caught, quite often it results in a surprise bill to pay for metered but previously un-billed water.
Since LWS needed to replace these older meters, radio read technology was chosen to make meter reading operations even more efficient. As the meter reader walks through each route, his handheld meter reading computer will send out a wake-up signal. The radio unit on the customer's water meter will respond and relay an accurate reading. When an entire neighborhood is converted to the new radio read meters, the meter reader will be able to drive by to get the readings. Eventually, a meter reading unit mounted in a vehicle will be used to obtain the meter readings.
LWS plans to change all of the meters in one meter reading cycle before proceeding to the next cycle. All ten cycles are anticipated to be completed within the next four years. The new Badger brand meters will have Itron radio units attached to them. The radio is powered by a battery with a life expectancy of approximately ten years.
Other Information
- The new meters are equipped with radio-read devices making reading more efficient.
- Meter readers will no longer walk into your yard to read meters in most cases.
- All Lincoln Water Service employees have City identification badges and wear blue uniforms with LWS logos. Do not allow anyone in your home without an I.D. badge or LWS Uniform. If you have any doubts, please call 441-5924.
- LWS owns the water meters, and there is no direct cost to you.
- Easy access to your meter will expedite the service worker's installation. Please move heavy items, like boxes, furniture, and appliances, before the service worker arrives.
