The first 40 digital water meters have been installed in Village of Waterville homes, the first step in a three-year process to convert all the meters.
At last week’s Village Board meeting, Village Clerk Gayle Barnes updated the board members on behalf of DPW Superintendent Jamie Bechy, who was absent. Village DPW employees connected the first 40 or so meters.
Waterville’s plan is to purchase meters for each house at a cost of $226.50, for a total village investment of $160,000. The first 300 meters have been purchased.
Once each household on the village’s water system has a new meter, the digital reading system will begin. Software allows a village vehicle, like the garbage truck, to read the meters as it drives past the homes.
Residents under the first wave of installations have received letters requesting they call the village to make an appointment for installation.
In his report, Bechy said some homeowners will need to install proper plumbing or a new shut-off. The homeowner will have to pay the costs to make sure the new meter...