North Ridgeville saves $1.3M on citywide water meter upgrade

NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio — North Ridgeville has wrapped up its citywide water meter replacement program ahead of schedule, not to mention $1.3 million under budget, Mayor Kevin Corcoran announced this week.

The project, which replaced water meters for every home and business in the city, was expected to take more than a year to complete.

Instead, crews finished the work in less than 12 months, a timeline Corcoran said was made possible by careful planning and strong cooperation from the community.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Corcoran credited Tara Peet, the city’s Director of Community Services, for leading the effort and keeping it on track. He also thanked residents and business owners for working with the city to schedule installations and minimize disruptions.

The water meter replacement program was launched to fix long-standing issues with aging equipment that often relied on estimated readings rather than actual water usage.

City officials previously said those estimates could lead to surprise bills, especially if leaks went unnoticed for several months.

With the new meters in place, customers can now track their water use in near-real time through the EyeOnWater mobile app. The app shows daily usage and can alert users to possible leaks, giving residents a chance to catch problems early and avoid costly repairs.

The city partnered with Utility Metering Solutions to manage installations, which typically required less than an hour of water service interruption per property.

Crews worked through the city, section by section, and flexible scheduling, including evenings and weekends, helped reduce the impact on local businesses.

City officials have also noted that the new meters help North Ridgeville meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by identifying the materials used in water service lines.