City of Bowling Green continues work to replace outdated water meters – BG Independent News

City of Bowling Green continues work to replace outdated water meters – BG Independent News

From CITY OF BOWLING GREEN The city of Bowling Green is continuing its effort to replace aging water meter equipment. The electronic transponders currently used to transmit water usage information to the Utilities Business Office were installed in 2008 and are reaching the end of their service life. While water meters continue to accurately record usage, failed transponders can no longer transmit readings for billing purposes. Because most water meters are located inside homes, Water Distribution Division staff must schedule appointments with affected customers to replace the equipment. Appointments typically take less than 30 minutes and are provided at no cost when the property’s water service meets city requirements. During the appointment, water distribution staff will review the meter installation and identify any necessary plumbing issues or corrections. If any issues are identified, staff will discuss them with the property owner. To notify customers of a meter failure, city staff are placing door hangers at affected properties, followed by calls from the Utilities Business Office to schedule appointments. If staff are unable to reach a customer, a letter will be mailed to the customer that includes a tentative water shut-off date. Water service will only be disconnected if a customer does not respond to schedule the required meter replacement appointment. In some cases, the city has not received water meter readings for several months. To prevent customers from receiving unexpectedly large bills, the Utilities Business Office is estimating water usage until the new equipment is installed. After the new meter is installed, the next utility bill will include the final reading from the old water meter and any necessary adjustments to billed usage. Customers experiencing financial difficulty due to this delayed billing are encouraged to contact the Utilities Business Office at 419-354-6252 to discuss payment options. The city of Bowling Green appreciates the community’s cooperation as it upgrades aging equipment to ensure continued accuracy and reliability in water meter reading and billing.