DETROIT—Estimated water bills for Detroit residents are becoming a thing of the past, a concept that east side resident Nicola Singal finds reassuring.

Singal recently had new, high tech water meter equipment installed in her home as part of the Detroit Water Automated Meter Reading (AMR) program, an initiative of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD).  The program is designed to eliminate estimated water bills, ensuring that every customer is billed accurately and is paying his or her fair share for water. This is accomplished through sophisticated technology that automatically transmits meter readings from each house to the DWSD office, eliminating the need for manual readings by personnel on foot.

There is no cost to customers for this improvement program.

To receive the new equipment, which is required for all Detroit residents and businesses, Singal scheduled an appointment after she received an Installation Alert that announced the program and provided a toll free scheduling number.

“I was surprised by how easy it was,” Singal said. “I called the toll free number on the notice and made my appointment. The meter installer came to my house on time and completed the installation in less than an hour.”

The installation program began in December in 2007 and is now expanding to the city’s east side, with the goal to upgrade homes east of Woodward Avenue and south of Eight Mile Road within the next six months. So far, more than 20,000 homes have been upgraded.  When the installation program is complete in three years, the Department will have installed the new meter technology in all 275,000 homes and 3,000 businesses in Detroit.

 “While the new meter technology will bring significant benefits to customers and the entire water system, we recognize that scheduling an appointment can be an inconvenience,” said George Ellenwood, DWSD Public Affairs Director.  “We’re working hard to make sure the process is as simple as possible and that customers have all the information they need.”

Ellenwood said meter installations are being done on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis. Approximately two weeks before technicians are scheduled to visit their neighborhood, residents will receive a mailed Installation Alert notifying them of the schedule and the requirement to schedule an appointment to have the meter installed in their home. 

Ellenwood added that even in homes with newer meters—those installed after 1996—an appointment will be needed to retrofit the meter and link it to the Department’s new automated system. 

As each new meter is installed or retrofitted, it will be connected to a small transmitting device that will be attached outside each residence and business. The device will transmit an updated water meter reading up to six times a day through a neighborhood antenna to DWSD’s central office.

Appointments should take no more than 45 minutes and are available during business hours Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays. An adult must be present during the installation. Uniformed technicians will arrive within two hours of the scheduled appointment.  All technicians will drive a Detroit Water AMR marked utility vehicle, and will carry a photo identification card. 

Ellenwood emphasized that the technicians’ job is only to install water meters.  “They will not deal with billing issues and are not authorized to discontinue service if customers are behind on their bills.”

For more information visit www.detroitwateramr.com or contact the Detroit Water AMR Call Center at 1.866.217.2359 or 313.372.2100.