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Water Meters
The City of Lodi has begun installing water meters on all unmetered properties in its service area. This is in accordance with California Assembly Bill 2572, which requires the installation and use of water meters throughout the State. To date, over 11,500 residential water meters have been installed as part of the City’s Water Meter Retrofit Program. This is in addition to the existing 1,600 commercial, industrial, and institutional meters.
California Assembly Bill 2572 Purpose
AB 2572 was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in September 2004 to reduce water-waste and encourage conservation. Studies by the California Public Utilities Commission have shown that communities with metered water systems use 7 to 20% less water than non-metered areas. All residential and many commercial customers are currently charged a flat-rate fee for water, which is billed monthly, based on the number of bedrooms being served, regardless of how much water they use. For example, a single person living in a four bedroom home is being charged more than a family of four living in a three bedroom home. A metered system discourages waste and rewards conservation by accurately measuring water usage and billing each household and business based on their actual water consumption.
Customers are probably already familiar with this type of "usage billing" for other utility services like electricity, gas and telephone.
The City of Lodi provides very high quality water to more than 63,000 people. By working to conserve this critical resource, our residents can continue to count on a reliable supply of high quality drinking water for generations to come.
State Law & the City of Lodi's Water Meter Plan
Since 1992, State law has required water meter installation as part of all new construction. In 2004, the Legislature passed AB2572, requiring all water suppliers to install water meters on all customer connections by January 1, 2025.
The law requires all metered services billed at a metered rate, so that water bills reflect water consumption. The City of Lodi currently charges residential customers a flat rate based on the number of bedrooms in the dwelling.
Water Meter Billing
Residents began receiving $300 bills for future water meter installations on April 2, 2011. The following are answers to some questions raised by residents.
- Why do we need to install and pay for water meters?
- Will all properties receive a water meter under the Water Meter Program and when will the meters be installed?
- Who will be responsible for the water meter payment and when will the water meter payments begin?
- Will the City be offering any financial assistance for low income residents?
- As part of a building permit I was required to pay a water meter deposit that exceeded the $300 and water service fee. Will the City reimburse me and when will my meter be installed?
- Will low-density multi-family structures (duplex, triplex, four-plex) be allowed to have each unit metered?
- Who will be responsible for paying the water utility bill?
- Who will be responsible for paying the balance of my water meter payment if the property is sold?
- How do I know if I will be charged for a meter, and how much it will cost?
- What does it mean to "upgrade" my water service?
- How do I know if I need to upgrade my water service?
- Can I arrange for my own installation?
- My house has a meter box that is configured to have a meter installed, but currently does not have a meter. Why won’t the City let me install it myself?
- This is a water meter program. Why are the water main lines being upgraded?
- It seems unfair that some residents will be billed on a flat-rate while others are charged on a usage base. Why not start billing everyone based on usage at one time?
- The Water Meter Program will be relocating the mainline servicing my house. Will I be required to pay for the new service connection?
- Will the water meters be equipped to be remotely read?
- Will my water bill go up?
- Will I be able to read my meter?
- Why is the City doing this?
- I received a water meter bill but I no longer own this property. Now what?
- I’m a property owner who did not receive a water meter bill. I think I should have. What do I do?
- I already have or paid for a water meter. Why am I being charged again?
- I already paid an extra $300 with my monthly utility bill. Why did I get another bill?
- My property doesn’t receive City water service. Why did I receive a bill?
- I have a duplex/triplex/fourplex. How does the meter program address my property?
- I don’t have $300 to pay by the end of June, but I don’t want to spread my payments out over three years. Can I pay more than $8.52 a month?
- Can I start payments later than July, or make payments smaller than the $8.52 a month?
- The house that used to be on my property received City water service, but it was demolished and now the parcel is vacant. Do I pay the meter bill I received?
- Why is the City placing a lien on my property if I don’t pay $300 by the end of June?
- Will the lien be reported to a credit reporting agency?
- Why can’t the City pay for the meters?
- This is the first I’ve heard of the water meter program. When was this decided?
- When will I know when my meter is being installed?
- I live on a parcel with two homes. I reside in one and rent out the other. Will I receive two meters?
- Why do I have to pay the bill now when the meter won’t be installed for several years?
- Am I paying interest to spread payments out over three years?
- So do I get interest on my $300 payment if my meter isn’t being installed for several years?
- When will I pay a metered rate?
- I’m about to lose my home to foreclosure. Do I still have to pay?
- How will the City know if all properties have paid their water meter bills?
- September 29, 2004: AB 2572, mandating water meters in all California cities by 2025, signed into law. Law requires homes built since 1992 to have usage-based water billing by 2011.
- May 2, 2007: City Council approves meter installation policy of:
- Payment terms
- Private contractor install for one year
- Property owners pay for meters
- Install within four years
- 2010: Property owners may hire a contractor for meter installation
- December 1, 2010: Deadline to submit Notice of Intent to Privately Contract postcard to the Program Administrator
- December 31, 2010: Deadline to complete installation (improvements must be accepted by City in January 2011)
- 2011 through 2019 City installation of water meters, new water mains
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Public Works
Physical Address
221 W. Pine Street
Lodi, CA 95240
Phone: 209-333-6706
Report a Problem or Emergency Phone: 209-368-5735