Video: Columbus Light & Water Customers Get New Water Meters

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — Columbus residents will soon have a better idea of how much water they’re using. 12,000 water meters are being installed throughout the city. Residents in Columbus will now have a better way to monitor the water they use. The new high tech meters will mean faster readings and more accurate calculations on a daily basis.

“I’m hoping it’s going to put more power into the customer’s hand. We can tell them on a day to day basis how they use water, not just month to month,” says Todd Gale, the General Manager of Columbus Light & Water.

Columbus is one of several cities in North Mississippi to install high-tech meters. Fulton Utilities customers have been using a new meter system for the last year.

“We’ve cut our water loss nearly in half and we’re hoping to see a big revenue pickup from what we were losing from our old meters,” says Andy Graham, the Fulton Utilities Manager.

The devices reduce the time it takes to read each meter. However, water rates won’t change.

“Minimum bills will remain the same and the unit cost for water will remain the same,” says Gale.

The installation is expected to be complete by the end of the year. Texas-based Utility Metering Solutions is the contractor installing the meters.