The City Council has approved an order from Mayor Kos that will allow approximately 1,700 water meters to be replaced per year, with all meters being replaced over the next decade.

After an extensive study, the City is pursuing a request for proposal for the installation of new water meters for all residential and commercial properties. The replacement of all water meter is anticipated to be completed in phases over the next 10 years. It is planned that all 16,200 residential water meters will be installed by Water Department employees, saving over $1,000,000 from the previously proposed 3 year installation plan by private contractors.

Installation by City staff will allow for meter installations for all customers without a rate increase for meters. In addition the water meter system proposals will investigate joint meter reading infrastructure utilized by Chicopee Electric Light.

“I appreciate the Council’s support on this measure,” said Mayor Kos. “This sensible phasing in of the new meters over 10 years allows the City to save money on installation while preventing any rate increases as a result.”

The 10 year plan for staggered meter installation also insures that the meters will not all age at the same time, thus minimalizing the chance the City will have to deal with aging infrastructure all at once years from now.

The benefits of the new meters include improved customer service consisting of leak detection, water conservation, 24 hour high use notification, more manageable monthly bills, elimination of estimated billing, and customer access to analytical tools such as consumption history and up to date reading are included in the new system. The new meters will ensure all customers have accurate and equitable metering.