Associated Press Published

West Virginia American Water Switching to Automated Meters

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  West Virginia American Water is converting its meters statewide to an automated system.

The company announced the $17 million project Thursday as part of an effort to quickly locate water meters and read them accurately.

The company says meters that are currently read by manual or probe methods will be converted over the next five years.

Readings on the company’s 171,000 meters will be transmitted to radio receivers installed in company vehicles. GPS coordinates for every meter will be collected, after which old meters will be replaced by automated ones.

The company says the conversion will enable workers who now walk miles each day to perform other field service work.