The City of Alpena plans to start rolling out new water meters before the end of the month.

The installation of the approximate 4,500 meters could be completed by the end of October.  If not, it will continue further into fall.

All households should have new meters before the end of the year.  A large number of the old meters are no longer reading actual usage so the city is losing a considerable amount of revenue needed to maintain its aging water and sewer systems.

Homeowners will be contacted prior to the installation and must be available for the work to be completed.  The city is planning to hold one or two public hearings before the work starts so citizens have a better idea of what to expect.

The usage on current meters inside some homes might not match what outside meters are reading.  In those cases, citizens will have to pay 50-percent of the difference in water and sewage usage, up to a maximum of $400.   

United Water, the city’s water management company is doing the installation work.  It plans to hire local plumbers to help.