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SITE NAVIGATION

Utilities Projects

Water Meters

Teichert Lawsuit FAQs

Utilities Projects

Water Meters

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The City’s Department of Utilities since 2005 has installed more than 143,000 water meters, which can help customers track their water use and provide a more accurate water bill.

Water meters are part of a larger statewide effort to protect California’s water supply.

Background

The City of Sacramento in 2005 began one of its most significant capital improvement projects, the installation of water meters throughout the City.

At that time, only 20 percent of the City’s water service connections were metered, so significant work was needed in order to meet state mandate by 2025.

Work began in 2017 to accelerate the City’s water meter program in order to be fully metered ahead of the state mandate.

In addition to the water meter installations, the City has also addressed aging infrastructure and many project areas also included additional improvements, such as relocating backyard water main pipelines to the street and replacing older mains located within the street.

The state mandate does not provide funding to help offset costs for these improvements.

Despite these challenges, the City has made steady progress over the past several years toward installing meters, as well as securing funding through rate increases, grants and bond sales to help accelerate the program and minimize the financial burden on customers.

The project is 99 percent complete and expected to be completed in 2024.

PDF Printout

Facts About Your New Water Meter

MyWater Login

Track water use and set up leak alerts

Water Rates

City Rates Webpage

How to Read Your Water Meter

Information for townhomes and condos

Meters are installed at the point of service -- typically at the property line -- for each customer connection.

However, townhome and condominiums are unique because water service lines are privately owned and maintained on townhome or condominium property.

The City has been working closely with townhome or condominium homeowners associations (HOAs) to determine the best approach for meter installation.

Prior to meter installation, two options were provided to townhome or condominium HOAs:

Master meters – meter installed at each townhome or condominium water service connection to the City's distribution system

Individual meters – meters installed within the townhome or condominium private water distribution system to serve individually owned units. This option was only available if the HOA met certain requirements, such as installing pipeline improvements and conveying easements to the City.

Most townhome or condominiums chose master meters.

Meter installations have been completed for townhomes and condominiums that chose individual meters.

Upcoming installation

Installation of master meters for townhomes and condominiums is expected to begin fall 2023.

HOAs will be notified up to two weeks before a meter installation.

During installation, there will be a temporary water shut down for up to four hours.

Typical work hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and weekends as needed.

The City will work to minimize impacts and coordinate with HOAs before and during installation.

Metered billing process

For the first 12 months after meter installation, HOAs will be given information on their total water use and monthly charges.

This allows HOAs to track and analyze how much water is used per month.

During this 12-month period, the individual residents will continue to be charged a flat rate.

After 12 months, flat water billing will stop and the HOAs will be charged monthly for metered water use and basic services.

HOAs will receive one bill for each master meter within the property to determine how to distribute the total cost of charges to individual units.

More information

For questions about meter installations and the metered billing process, people can email watermeter@cityofsacramento.org.

For questions specific to your individual water charges, contact your HOA.

Contact us

General questions can be directed to watermeter@CityofSacramento.org and 916-808-5870.

Questions about utility bills can be directed to the Department of Utilities customer service.

Funding for this Meter and Pipeline Installation Project has been provided in full or in part by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board.

California's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund is capitalized through a variety of funding source, including grants from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and state bonds proceeds.

The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the foregoing, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommentation for use.

Teichert Lawsuit FAQs

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