Water Meter Replacement Project – Customer Information

Water meters have a 20-year lifespan and must be replaced when at or near the end of their life.

Replacement of the meter, owned by LCA, is free.

A reliable third-party contractor called MeterTek Utility Services Inc. is conducting meter replacement work on behalf of LCA. The MeterTek technicians carry photo identification, which customers can ask to see. See the sample company logo below.

The replacement meter is an iPerl Smart Meter manufactured by Sensus (see photo below).

Customer properties already have a Sensus Smartpoint transceiver unit installed outside the home (see photo below). Unless damaged or malfunctioning, transceivers are not being replaced.

The new meter will be wired to the existing transceiver.

Lehigh County Authority (LCA) reads your water meter once each quarter for billing purposes. During meter reading, a technician drives an LCA vehicle with specialized computer equipment through a geographic area to collect data. The vehicle computer sends a signal or “ping” to the transceiver outside your home. The transceiver, wired to the water meter, transmits a meter reading to the LCA software system. Otherwise, it is inactive or “at rest” (see photo below).

The only information transmitted is the water meter number and the meter reading. Water meters can only record the volume of water used in gallons.

There is no radio technology in the water meter. The transceiver, located on the outside of your property, is wired to the water meter. It is activated once per quarter when an LCA technician drives through your neighborhood to collect meter readings. A radio signal is transmitted to all transceivers in the area requesting meter data. After the data is received and the vehicle passes by, the transceiver returns to an inactive state until the next meter reading.

Transceivers use RF levels that are well below the acceptable limits for in-home devices set by the FCC, and when in use operate at far lower levels than many common household items, such as Wi-Fi routers, cell phones, baby monitors, or microwave ovens.

For more information on RF safety, visit the FCC website: https://www.fcc.gov/ and search for key words “RF Safety.”

Before the scheduled appointment, clear the area around the water meter, allowing room for the MeterTek technician to work. The technician will ask you to show them to the meter location, typically in the basement. The process to remove the old meter and install the new one is expected to take one hour. Water service will be disrupted during the work. Please plan accordingly. When replacement is complete, water will be turned on and the technician will ensure the meter works properly.

Once LCA obtains an actual reading with the upgraded equipment, your bill may be higher because it is now catching up with low estimates. Your bill may be lower due to high estimates. Either way, your bill will be adjusted to the actual usage for your property.

Learn more about actual and estimated meter readings on our website https://www.lehighcountyauthority.org/meterreading/

Yes, you can read the water meter by opening the lid and shining a bright flashlight on the sensors, activating the display. LCA has helpful information about meters and how to read them on our website at https://www.lehighcountyauthority.org/watermeters/.