LOMBARD, Illinois—In an effort to save water and money, the Village of Lombard will begin a water meter change out program in areas of the Village with older water meters. The water meter change out program will primarily affect commercial and multi-family properties. 

The replacement of these older meters and installation of SmartPoint radio transceivers will result in improved service and convenience by more accurately reading water usage and eliminating the need to enter private property to read the meter, according to Angela Podesta, Superintendent of Utilities for the Lombard Public Works Department, who is overseeing the program.  Water readings will now be transmitted to the Village via radio signals broadcast from the newly-installed transceivers and then relayed from antennae on the Village’s water towers, Podesta explained.

 There is also a residential component to the program which will only involve approximately 10% of single-family homes and does not include replacing the meter.  These homes are only in need of the new technology portion of the system and it can be installed onto the existing meter from outside the home.

Commercial & Multi-Family

Due to the functionality of these larger meters, it has become cost-effective for the Village to replace them rather than repair them.  The meters currently in use involve water flowing through various chambers, which equates to multiple mechanical processes within the meter.  The new meters are better able to accommodate a wide range of flow with less mechanical parts.  This means that billing for the customer’s water usage will be more accurate and there is less chance of mechanical failure in the meter.  Depending upon the size of the service line, either a new OMNI or iPERL meter will be installed.  Property owners will not be charged for the installation of the new meter, however properties are required to have working valves when the new meter is installed.

Residential

The residential portion of the program will only involve meters installed within the last five years and any new construction.  In the case of existing homes, work entails a Village employee fitting a SmartPoint radio transceiver over the existing touch pad on the outside of the house.  Property owners will not be charged any cost for this installation and in most cases it will not require entry into the home.  For new construction, the new iPERL meters will now be supplied when meters are purchased.

The Village has contracted with United Meters, Inc. (UMI) to perform the meter installations and associated work.  UMI will make contact directly with property owners to schedule appointments for necessary work.  Questions regarding this program can be directed to the Village’s Public Works Department at (630) 620-5740 or by email at publicworks@villageoflombard.org.