KILLEEN, Texas (Dec. 10, 2021) – The City of Killeen’s Department of Public Works has begun replacing mechanical water meters with 5,000 smart water meters across the city.
This is apart of a ten-year program that will replace the current 55,000 meters in Killeen. City Council approved the purchase of the 5,000 Ultrasonic smart meters in August 2021 and they’re now being installed in the northeast section of town, in an area bordered by North WS Young Drive on the west, Fort Hood property on the north, North Roy Reynolds Drive on the east and Lake Road to the South.
The project is expected to take 10 – 12 months to complete. The Ultrasonic meters have a warranty of 20 years.
“The benefits of this meter are that it’s a much more accurate meter,” Steve Kana, Director of Water and Sewer said. “The old mechanical meter, just like anything else that’s mechanical, they kind of wear out with time.”
City crews confirm that there should be no major impact to Killeen customers. Crews will place door hangers on homes several days prior to the meter replacement, to notify residents that we’ll be in the area for the installation. The new meters take up to 30 minutes to install, in which time the home’s water will need to be turned off. Any air that may have entered the system during the replacement will be released by a City employee opening one of the outside faucets for up to two minutes.
“We’re very confident that this way, we’ll be able to get much more accurate meter reads for the water that is being used,” Kana said.
If residents have questions or concerns about their water meter replacement, please feel free to contact the Manager of Water and Sewer Operations at (254) 501-6305.
Video of smart meter installation and an interview with Steve Kana are available on our City’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljAHQDWgAEU. Photos are also available on our social media platforms. Please credit the City of Killeen.