Baltimore Water Metering – The Future Begins Now
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Baltimore City Department of Public Works Director, Alfred H. Foxx, announced today that initial steps are being taken to bring our water metering and billing system into the information age. The Mayor stated, "Efficient and effective customer service is a top priority of this administration and we are very focused on those services we deliver to every citizen, in our City and our region, every day." To that end, DPW has begun replacement of approximately 12,000 Automatic Reading and Billing (ARB) meters throughout Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
These early-generation remote read meters were installed in homes as a pilot program nearly 40 years ago. They are outdated and, in some cases, can no longer provide remote meter reading capabilities.
What does this mean for our customers?
1. Replacement of these ARBs, with outside meters, will eliminate problems in obtaining actual meter reads caused by this particular meter. Estimated bills at these locations will end.
2. Outside meter installations is a first step to bring consistency to all DPW meters and necessary to the next phase of upgrades.
3. DPW is developing a request for proposals (RFP) for an automated reading and billing system which will utilize the outside meters. The meters will eventually have a low–frequency radio attachment allowing them to be read even when covered in ice and snow.
4. Once this process is completed, over the next several years, not only will the meters be easily readable, but a new automated billing system will be linked to them, resulting in more timely, accurate and customer-friendly bills.
“One exciting part of all of this is that once the system is in place, customers will be able to track their water usage on their home computers and smart phones. If you have a leak in your home you will be able to detect that very quickly,” said Director Foxx.
Customers with ARB meters are being notified of the replacement and can expect to first see a new meter vault placed in the sidewalk. New meters will be placed in those vaults within the following few weeks. Homeowners will be notified before the meter is set as they may experience a very brief (1 hour or less) water outage during installation. The existing ARB meters inside of homes will remain in place and will not impact a customer’s water service.
Baltimore City Public Works wants your input into how we can improve service to our water customers. Write to us at water@baltimorecity.gov