Water meters are essential tools for measuring water consumption. They ensure that Desert Water Agency customers are billed accurately based on actual water usage.
DWA monitors the age of residential and commercial meters so we can proactively replace the devices when they are near the end of their lifespan. Typically, a water meter lasts about 20 years.
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep meters in our service area up to date, DWA is replacing meters that have reached the end of their optimal life. Customers who are due to have their meter replaced will receive advance notice from DWA.
Upgrading a meter takes about 15-20 minutes and requires the water to your home or business to be shut off during that time. Our team works closely with customers to avoid disruption during the replacement process. If the timing isn’t convenient, we will reschedule the changeout to ensure minimal inconvenience.
In addition to replacing aging meters, DWA also monitors their performance throughout their lifecycles, allowing us to swap them if necessary to avoid issues and maintain accuracy.
DWA also takes extra quality control measures to ensure the precision of meters by testing 10% of all meters prior to installation – above and beyond the manufacturer’s testing.
Accurate meters empower customers to monitor their water usage and detect unusual changes, such as leaks. If the dial on the face of the meter is spinning, when the water is shut off or no water is being used, that could be a sign of a leak.
Fixing leaks leads to savings in both water and money. For more information on how to use your meter to determine if you have a leak, click here.
The newly installed meters contain technology that will eventually provide access hourly water use data online, offering real-time insights to help customers manage their water use habits and prevent water waste. DWA anticipates all customers will have upgraded meters within the next four years.