AMI stands for Advanced Metering Infrastructure. These new AMI meters consist of a water meter, a register, and a low-powered communication device/radio that is integrated in a single unit. The register is continuously recording water usage and the radio sends a meter reading to a Gateway which is mounted on a monopole or elevated water storage tank. The Gateway transmit the read over a secure network every 6 hours back to the meter data management software which is located in the cloud. With this upgrade and the integration of this data into the City of Seabrook existing WaterSmart customer portal software, you will have access to more frequent and detailed information about your water consumption, enabling you to have better control over your water usage and monthly bills.
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In the Spring of 2021, the Seabrook City Council approved the project to convert all city meters to AMI for improved data collection and to provide customers with more frequent and detailed information about their water consumption. In addition, a large majority of the city's water meters were past their useful life.
The installation will begin in July 2021 and will take several months to complete all replacements in the city. The actual installation process for a water meter replacements usually takes around 30 minutes to complete.
The work will be started beginning July 2021. The entire project will take approximately 8 months. In most cases, the transition will be completely transparent and will not affect the residents. The work will be performed during normal working hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. You will receive a door hanger 3-5 days prior to installation crews arriving in your neighborhood.
There will be an interruption of service for approximately 15 minutes during the change. Because your water will be turned off temporarily during the meter change process, you may experience a brief period of air or discolored water. In most cases briefly running your cold water will clear up this situation. The full installation process is available on the website.
Ameresco contractors will be wearing bright yellow vest with “AMERESCO”, placards on their trucks, and carrying a letter on the City of Seabrook letterhead.
No, they do not need to enter your home. If the water meter is behind a fence, workers will need access to that part of the property.
No, your new meter does not require any maintenance by the homeowner. As before, the City of Seabrook Public Works Department will take care of all maintenance.
The AMI water meters provide daily and hourly water use information, along with your current monthly information. Each household, after their new water meter is installed, can monitor their usage by logging on to the WaterSmart portal provided by the City of Seabrook. Through the WaterSmart portal, you can elect to receive text message, e-mail, or phone call alerts, if your water usage indicates a potential leak or abnormal usage.
The City of Seabrook is working closely with Ameresco to answer everyone's questions as thoroughly as possible. We have taken the following steps to answer questions: