AKRON, Ohio — Akron water-utility customers are getting new meters and a new online system as part of an upgraded utility program dubbed “Akron H2O — Tap into the future,” the city said in a release.

What You Need To Know

  • Akron’s upgraded city-wide water-utility program includes new water meters

  • The meters will digitally transmit water-usage information to the city

  • An improved online interface will enable greater functionality for account monitoring, bill pay and service requests

  • Customers will be able to read their meters hourly, up to 8,000 times per year

Residents’ water-utility bills will not increase as a result of this new system, the city said. The project will be funded through a low-interest loan paid over 15 years from existing water and sewer revenue. The total cost of the project is about $60 million.

Akron H2O has several components. Customers who want to view their water usage hourly instead of monthly will be able to take up to 8,000 readings per year, the city said. The new meters will digitally transmit water-usage information to the city.

 “The plan surrounding this key initiative has been carefully coordinated and organized to introduce upgrades to our service that will allow customers to better manage their water usage,” said Mayor Dan Horrigan.

The system’s improved portal and online interface will offer greater functionality, allowing water customers to view their accounts online, set up usage alerts and pay bills. It will enable customers to detect any leaks in the system, the city said.  

Customers’ service requests can be transmitted through the system, which the city said will improve response times.

Akron’s water supply manager, Jeff Bronowski, said his team has been working on the new system for several months.

“As the batteries on the city’s current meters began nearing their end-of-life, we proactively planned Akron H2O – Tap into the Future as the solution to advance our infrastructure and minimize disruptions in service,” he said.

The city hired Utility Metering Solution, headquartered in Louisiana, to design and install the system.

Installation will begin this month and take about two years to conclude, the city said.

The new meters are mandatory, the city said. Akron water customers will receive notices in the mail from UMS to set up appointments for installation of the new meters.

During installation, water will be turned off for about 15 minutes and the whole installation will take less than an hour, the city said.

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