Why is the lid covering my new water meter locked?
City of Asheville Water Resources customers who have had their new AMI water meter installed may have noticed that the meter lids are locked. This marks a departure from the old lids for several reasons.
Under North Carolina law, it is a misdemeanor for a customer – even if they’re the homeowner and not a tenant who rents – to bypass or tamper with a water meter, including turning off service.
Why were the old lids unlocked?
The new lids are made of a composite material, which is lighter than the old metal lids, making them susceptible to detaching and floating away during an event, such as torrential rain, that produces high water volume. This creates a safety hazard for people and animals, who can suffer serious injury if they step into an open meter hole.
A little background on the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project
The City of Asheville is in the process of replacing the Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. Replacement of the system is actually more cost effective than replacing the batteries on the AMR system currently reaching end of life. The system will also allow customers to monitor their water consumption through a real time dashboard. This will allow both customers and the Water Department to identify potential leaks or other issues that could result in an unexpectedly high bill.
The Water Department and a third party contractor are currently working in a phased approach to install meters for all of our more than 63,000 residential and business connections in Buncombe and Henderson counties which serve more than 150,000 customers. As of July 2, more than 18,000 new meters have been installed, which represents 29% project completion. Substantial completion is scheduled for 2025.
You can learn more details about the project on the Water Meter Replacement Project page.
- What if I experience an emergency like a broken pipe in my home and need my water shut off temporarily?
- Water Resources staff are available 24/7 to shut off water in the event of an emergency. Call 828-251-1122.
- Customers can also schedule a cut off if they’re going to be gone from home for a lengthy period of time.
- Who do I contact during an emergency or to schedule a temporary cut off?
- Customers may call Customer Service at 828-251-1122.
- Is there another way to temporarily cut off my water?
- Customers always have the option to install, at their expense, a shut-off valve on their side of the meter, between the meter box and the residence or business.