City Set to Begin Installation of New Smart Meters in August
Cloverdale remains committed to increasing the City’s resiliency to cope with and respond to drought conditions. While our reservoirs are currently operating at near full capacity, we are continuing with implementation of a comprehensive water meter replacement program using innovative “WaterSmart Meter” technology as part of the City’s continuing efforts to conserve water, enhance customer service, replace aging infrastructure, and be more efficient. The project will replace and upgrade approximately 3,300 existing water meters throughout Cloverdale to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system.
WaterSmart Meter Installation Information
Residents can expect to see contractors installing new Smart meters in Cloverdale starting in August. The City’s contractor will replace and upgrade every customer’s water meter, equipped with communication technology that will allow customers to monitor their water use. If a customer’s meter box is damaged or if it is undersized for the new meter and equipment, the meter box will either be repaired or replaced. It is anticipated that customers might typically experience approximately 30 minutes of water shutoff during installation unless there are further complications. A door hanger will be placed on customer’s front door that the water meter is replaced.
The City’s contractor will also be installing antennas on City poles that will allow the customers’ AMI meter to communicate with the City’s Customer Service WaterSmart Portal. The City’s Utility Billing Team will be receiving equipment and software upgrades that would allow it to detect leaks in the water system and securely share water use information with customers through a web portal.
When completed, customers will be able to see their own daily water usage and make informed decisions on how to manage their water. As the project reaches completion, the City will provide updates and share how customers can connect to the WaterSmart web portal to monitor their own water usage.
Sample Door hanger that will be placed after meter replacement
You Received a NEW Water Meter Today!
Your water meter was upgraded today by RTS Water Solutions, LLC, the authorized meter installation contractor for the City of Cloverdale. Changes in water pressure during the installation process can result in temporary:
• Discoloration of water
• Air in the water lines, and
• Small particles of sediment
Prior to using your water, we recommend that you flush your lines by turning on your bathtubs COLD water faucet for 3 to 5 minutes or use an outside faucet. Avoid flushing faucets that have aerator attachments or hot water faucets that may draw sediment into your water tank.
PLEASE NOTE: you DO NOT need to boil water because of this work.
Authorized by the City of Cloverdale. For questions or concerns, please call 707-894-1700 or email CustomerService@ci.cloverdale.ca.us.
The Details
City staff does not actively monitor the amount, time or volume of any customer’s water use. If a customer requests assistance, City staff will review the hourly water use with the customer when requested. The hourly data is a tool customers can use to better understand how they use water throughout the day, help identify leaks and prevent unforeseen high water bills.
The water meter measures the amount of water used over a one hour period. It is impossible to know what the water is being used for or the exact time of the use.
The WaterSmart Meter does not have the ability to turn off a home’s or businesses’ water, or adjust the flow of water coming through the meter. The water can only be turned off in person at the location of a home or business.
Your household’s and business’s water use and the timing of that use is private and secure. This information is not being shared outside he City, including the state or any other agency/organization. The water use data registered by the WaterSmart Meter data is encrypted and includes a unique meter number and no identifying customer information. Both measures protect data from external entities and threats. Customers may access their water use online using the WaterSmart portal which requires a private password the customer creates. City staff does not investigate or review a customer’s water use accounts unless requested by the customer.
The new WaterSmart Meter combined with the WaterSmart portal offers Cloverdale’s water customers near real-time water use, potential leak alerts, avoid unintentional high water consumption, improve water efficiency, and access water saving rebates.
The WaterSmart Meter Project will help the City enhance and streamline customer service, use water more efficiently, replace aging infrastructure, use staff time more efficiently and reduce the environmental impact of the City’s operations.
All meters within the City of Cloverdale service territory need to be replaced because they have reached their useful life.
The City carefully planned the project so it would not result in additional costs to customers. To date, City of Cloverdale has received over $1.5 million in grant funding from the Department of Water Resources to offset the cost of the project.
The WaterSmart Meter Project has been presented to the City Council as “Advanced Metering Infrastructure” or AMI. The WaterSmart Meter Project refers to the installment and operation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure and these terms may be used interchangeably.
The field work is scheduled to begin August. The first phases include replacement of meter box lids and a limited installation of WaterSmart Meters. Citywide installation of WaterSmart Meters is anticipated to be complete in late 2023/ early 2024.
Customers will be notified with door hangers, by email and with their utility bill when their water meter replacement will occur, describing the project and what to expect and who to contact for more information.
Customers do not need to be present during the water meter upgrade work. To prepare, please make sure the area around the meter box is clear and accessible, including unlocking gates to allow meter access, restraining dogs to ensure workers’ safety and moving vehicles if parked over a meter.
There will be a short interruption in service of approximately 30 minutes or less for residential customers. The meter installer will attempt to contact you before beginning work by knocking on your door. Businesses, where possible, will be scheduled to limit any interruption to service.
Currently, water meters are manually read by City of Cloverdale staff once a month to obtain customer water use readings. The new WaterSmart Meters provide remote updates on a daily basis (instead of monthly) and customers will have 24/7 access to this information. The information from the WaterSmart Meter is transferred to the City using an encrypted wireless radio signal.
The City of Cloverdale’s licensed contractor will perform the meter upgrades. All installers will be dressed in uniform and can present identification if asked. Their company logo will also be displayed on all vehicles.
For more information, please contact the City of Cloverdale 1-707-894-2521 or visit https://www.cloverdale.net/watermeter
City Manager David Kelley
City of Cloverdale
124 North Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425
707-894-2521
