The City of Norwich is working to replace water meters in all residential and commercial properties that use municipal water. The replacement is mandatory but will be of no cost to taxpayers. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH – The City of Norwich has contracted with Ferguson Waterworks and Saks Metering to replace the water meters in all residential and commercial properties within city limits that use municipal water.

City of Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver said the replacement is much needed, as the current water meters are old and innacurate.

Plus, to read the old meters, property owners must allow readers access to their property, and sometimes inside their homes or businesses. The new meters will provide wireless reading, meaning meter readers can get the information they need without going to the meter itself.

“We’re actually going into the future with this. We’re going to actually be able to drive down the street and be able to do all the readings. By just driving down the street we’ll be able to wirelessly get the meter readings,” he said. “It would be helpful with personnel because they literally would have to walk the streets to redo the readings. So this will alleviate a lot of personnel tied up to just do readings.”

He said the new meters will also help the city identify leaks faster, which would save residents money in the event of a leak.

The leaks will be identified here in the finance department so if there is a leak they’ll catch it faster. So if people are having an issue that will help them. Sometimes we don’t catch it right away and people get a big bill, so this will help to alleviate those issues too, we’re hoping,” Doliver said.

However, he did warn that the increased accuracy of the new meters could raise some property owners’ water bill, as the older meters may not have been recording just how much water they were using.

The water meter replacement is mandatory for all properties using municipal water. Property owners should have already received a letter from Saks Metering asking to schedule their appointment for meter replacement.

Upon receiving the letter, property owners have 30 days to schedule an appointment. Appointments can be made by visiting SaksMetering.com and clicking “Schedule Appointment,” emailing info@saksmetering.com, or calling Saks Metering at 877-583-7257.

Appointments can be made between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. or between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“They show up within like a three or four hour window. Generally speaking you will be without water for probably 20 to 30 minutes - The time it takes them to take one meter out and put the other meter back in,” Dolliver explained.

The water meter replacement is being provided at no cost to city property owners, thanks to a grant secured several years ago by former City of Norwich Mayor Shawn Sastri and his administration.

This project is another step in upgrading city water and sewer infrastructure. Over the summer, the city completed the water main replacement project, which Doliver said replaced over 100-year-old, four-inch pipes to brand new eight-inch pipes in the downtown area.

He said between the water main replacement, NYSEG gas line replacement, repaving, and installation of ADA ramps, an estimated $10 million was invested in the downtown Norwich area.

“The state did a lot last year. They were really kind of the main lead on the project and we kind of piggybacked on what they were doing. So while you’re digging up the street, we might as well do our project,” said Doliver. “And it was important to get it done last year because the DRI is going to be starting to happen here this year and the following years to come. So we can now safely say we’ll get out of your way for the private investment to come and start doing their thing.”

Moving forward, the city is preparing for an update to the sewer plant. Doliver said the city is currently looking for grants to fund the estimated $4 million project.

For more information on the water meter replacement project and Saks Metering, visit SaksMetering.com, NorwichNewYork.net, or the City of Norwich Facebook page.

Questions and concerns can be directed to the City of Norwich at 607-334-1250 or Saks Metering at 877-583-7257.