The V.I. Water and Power Authority will begin upgrading water meters Monday in the Estate Thomas, Sugar Estate, Hospital Ground and Havensight areas, the authority announced Friday.
The new automatic meter reading system, or AMR, was purchased from Metron-Farnier. Installers from the Boulder, Colo., based company, will work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March 15. No water service interruptions are anticipated while the upgrade is in progress.
According to WAPA’s news release, Metron-Farnier installers will wear “WAPA Contractor” uniforms and will use vehicles with identifying stickers. Because most meters are located at the property edge, on the sidewalk or on the road, installers will generally not be required to enter properties to complete the upgrades.
In each location, technicians will attach a new tamper-proof component to the existing meter that enables automatic meter reading. The AMR system includes a reading device installed in the meter reader’s vehicle that allows meter readers to collect the consumption data as the reader drives the service area, without the driver having to emerge from the vehicle.
WAPA said the cycle and route for reading the water meters, as shown on the monthly bill, will change as a result of the new system. Customers with water and electric accounts will no longer have identical billing cycles. Meter-reading and payment dates and disconnection dates for non-payment will conform to a new schedule.
During the period of transfer, customers may receive a bill that reflects a shorter or longer service period, but future bills will reflect the usual average number of days in the billing period, WAPA said.
Approximately 1,266 meters will be upgraded during this phase, supported by $120,000 of the authority’s capital improvement fund. To date, 1,500 meters on St. Thomas’ east end and 240 meters on St. John have been upgraded to the AMR system. Within a year, the Lindberg Bay AMR upgrade will begin for all water accounts west of Nisky Center. A total of 5,000 meters will be upgraded in the St. Thomas/St. John district.
On St. Croix, 2,500 meters have been upgraded from Christiansted town to Tide Village, Estate Richmond, to Sion Farm, and Estate Mon Bijou to William’s Delight. Within the next year, $635,000 in grant funds will be utilized to continue the St. Croix upgrades.
AMR will reduce billing and reading errors and the costs associated with manual meter reading, provide accurate customer usage history, detect leaks, and improve security and tamper detection for equipment.
Customers can call 1-340-774-3552, extension 2412, or send an email to communications@viwapa.vi for more information.
