Water meters to be upgraded in Welland

At least 1,200 residential water meters in service for more than 20 years in Welland will be upgraded, as will a number of commercial, industrial and multiresidential meters.

The city said Neptune Technology Group, a company with more than 120 years of experience in the water meter industry, will start work on June 8 and that city staff have identified those meters scheduled for upgrades.

Neptune staff will contact residents via mail or phone on behalf of the city and schedule appointments, the city said.

“When Neptune representatives arrive to complete the prescheduled work, they will have the Neptune Technology Group logo on their vehicles,” said

Vince Beaudoin, Welland’s public works general foreman, in a release.

“They will present themselves at the door with a photo ID badge that identifies them as a water meter installer.”

The city said the service requires 30 to 90 minutes to complete, during which time water will be shut off for a brief period. There is no charge for the water meter or the installation.

“Appointments will be made to fit individual schedules along with toll-free telephone access and live representation Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is a fully automated system with customer contacts, appointment scheduling, and after-hours voice messaging,” the release said.

Residents are asked to ensure the area around existing water meters is clear and accessible for technicians to work. Existing shut-off valves should be located where the water service comes into dwellings and should have operable shut-off valves, the city added.

It said the meter upgrade program will ensure the continued accuracy of water meters in Welland and will also allow remote meter reading to create a more efficient system.