Water Meter Replacement Program
Residents may have received a door notice indicating that their water meter needs to be replaced. The DPW is stepping up its efforts to replace aging water meters. The goal of this multi-year program is to replace all water meters over a ten year cycle. Older meters can currently be read through a touchpad mounted on the side of the house. Newer meters are read via radio. To date, we have installed over 4,000 radio-read meters with plans to replace the remaining touch-pad meters in 2024. While improving meter reading efficiency, the newer technology has additional benefits such as minimization of meter reading errors, minimization of the need to access private property, the ability to show customers when their water is being used, and the ability to detect if there is a probable leak in the plumbing system.
The table below summarizes our meter replacement efforts to date:
Meter Replacement Table
Month | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
January | 0 | 36 | 24 | 51 | 33 | 17 | 45 | 24 | 12 | 87 |
February | 0 | 3 | 22 | 38 | 30 | 23 | 69 | 31 | 31 | 113 |
March | 0 | 6 | 22 | 56 | 20 | 53 | 84 | 28 | 54 | 84 |
April | 0 | 16 | 23 | 58 | 23 | 26 | 9 | 32 | 24 | 66 |
May | 0 | 24 | 32 | 74 | 31 | 37 | 12 | 26 | 30 | 68 |
June | 2 | 12 | 42 | 73 | 33 | 66 | 37 | 30 | 46 | 56 |
July | 0 | 19 | 38 | 47 | 21 | 31 | 97 | 112 | 32 | 55 |
August | 0 | 13 | 40 | 52 | 80 | 40 | 189 | 100 | 27 | 36 |
September | 0 | 16 | 39 | 53 | 29 | 47 | 59 | 50 | 43 | 37 |
October | 3 | 10 | 35 | 55 | 58 | 32 | 52 | 25 | 21 | 57 |
November | 4 | 10 | 33 | 49 | 36 | 70 | 27 | 22 | 20 | 56 |
December | 8 | 14 | 35 | 44 | 24 | 33 | 20 | 29 | 54 | 29 |
Annual Total | 17 | 179 | 385 | 650 | 418 | 475 | 700 | 509 | 394 | 744 |
Total | 4,471 | |||||||||
% Replaced (approx) | 87% | |||||||||
# of meters remaining (approx) | 639 |
Note: Total number of meters in system = 5,110 (as of 4/1/22)
Select houses will receive a notice explaining that the water meter is scheduled for replacement. The notice will provide instructions on how to schedule an appointment. The installation will typically take 15-30 minutes and will be performed by Town personnel. An adult must be home at the time of the installation.
All meter replacement work is performed by Water Division employees in clearly marked Town vehicles.
Questions on the program may be addressed to Deputy Superintendent Neal Merritt at 781-826-3189.
Please click on the following link for more information regarding the meter replacement program.