The City of Sweetwater is offering a smarter way to track your water use! All homes serviced by the City of Sweetwater are now equipped with smart meter technology. Along with this technology,  customers have the option to track their usage, receive automatic leak alerts, and much more. Customers can sign up for the portal by logging on to getmymeter.info and creating an account. To create your account, you will need your account number, found on your monthly statement. A mobile app is also available for all smart phones. To install the app, you will need access to two devices. The video below will serve as your guide to install the app.

INSTALLATION TIMELINE

The City of Sweetwater is partnering with Secure Vision of America to replace meters at every Sweetwater home and business. On your installation day, a uniformed Secure Vision of America representative will arrive in a vehicle clearly marked with the City of Sweetwater logo. Secure Vision of America is the only company authorized by the City of Sweetwater to perform work on your meter.

Your meter is located outside of your home or business near the curb or in your alley. You do not need to be present during the installation. Your water will be turned off for 15-20 minutes while the meter is installed. Once installation of all meters is complete (estimated completion is in July), you can logon to this website and register to monitor your usage through the online portal. The portal will also allow you to set consumption limits to raise awareness of your usage. Should you have any questions, please contact City Hall at (325) 236-6313.

RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
To prepare for installation, please prune back any landscaping that has grown over your meter box. Contractors will never ask to enter your home or backyard to complete required work.

COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS
To ensure installation plans do not interfere with business operations, Secure Vision of America will contact commercial customers separately to coordinate installation plans and procedures.

 Smart Water Meter Benefits

Smart water meters provide additional insight and control over customers' monthly water bills. They have also been identified as one of the State of Texas Best Management Practices for residential water conservation. Here are just a few of the perks:

SMART WATER METER FAQs

1. Why is the City of Sweetwater installing smart water meters? 
Smart water meters offer customers several benefits, such as added insight and control over their water consumption and increased confidence in the accuracy of water bills. By helping customers identify how much water they use and when they use it, the smart meters eliminate surprises and even allow customers to get an estimate of their next monthly bill. Detailed, hourly data can also help identify unexpected water use caused by leaks or incorrectly-programmed sprinklers. In addition, smart meters allow for more efficient processes leading to reduced City service costs over time.

2. How does the system work?
A new digital meter will be installed at each home and/or business. Water use will be collected and transmitted daily to a customer portal via a secure wireless connection. Customers are urged to sign up for the customer portal where they can track water use and get alerts when water use increases, or possible leaks are detected. Customers will continue to receive a monthly bill in the mail and/or email/text alerts for utility services.

3. When will my home/business get a smart meter?
Secure Vision of America will install approximately 4,500 smart meters starting in February of 2023. All meters are projected to be installed by July 2023. Customers will be notified via Nixle alert system and social media prior to their scheduled installation. To receive Nixle notifications from the City of Sweetwater, text '79556' to 888-777. You can also follow the City of Sweetwater on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the latest installation schedules and routes.

 4. Will water service be interrupted during installation?
Installation typically takes 15-30 minutes. Crews will temporarily turn off your water before removing the old meter and replacing it with a smart meter. 

5. Who will install my smart water meter?
The City of Sweetwater has contracted with a company called Secure Vision of America to install smart water meters at every Sweetwater home and business. On your installation day, a uniformed Secure Vision of America representative will arrive in a vehicle clearly marked with the City of Sweetwater logo. Secure Vision of America is the only company authorized by the City of Sweetwater to perform work on your meter.

6. Do I need to do anything before my new water meter is installed?
Check the area around your meter box. Please clear landscaping, personal water sensors, or other items that are blocking access to your water meter.

7. How can I request a new water meter at my home or business?
There is no need to request a new meter. We are working to replace every customer's meter by the end of July 2023.

8. Will the new meters be installed in the same location as the current meter?
Secure Vision of America plans to install new meters in the same location.

9. Do I need to flush my water line after the new water meter is installed?
It is not required because the installation crew will clear the lines from the outside. You may run your kitchen sink faucet for 2 minutes after installation if you desire. In addition, running a cycle through your washing machine with no clothes inside is also a recommendation if you have galvanized plumbing at your house.

10. What meter is being installed?
A Kamstrub 3/4" flowIQ 2250 meter, which is free from lead and other heavy metals, will be installed in residential homes. Commercial meters will receive the size meter that was engineered for the establishment.

11. Will this new meter change my water service?
No, there will be no difference in your water service. The average home with irrigation uses 15 gallons per minute and the new meters have an average of 30 gallons per minute.

12. Does my meter have to be replaced or can I opt out?
All meters must be replaced to be compatible with our new system. You may not opt-out from having your meter replaced.

13. Will my water bill increase when a new meter is installed?
The new meters will accurately measure water use and will bill you for no more than the water that you use. Some customers may notice an increase in their monthly water use because your water use is more accurately tracked. Customers will have new tools to monitor their water use and take actions to manage their water consumptions.

14. Who pays for the electricity for the new meters?
The meters will be powered by a battery that typically has a 20-year lifespan. The City of Sweetwater will be responsible for replacing the battery when necessary. 

15. What happens if I experience a plumbing issue after my smart meter is installed?
All installers are trained on steps to prevent negative impact to customers' plumbing, and reports of problems are very rare. If customers encounter any issues immediately after their smart meter installation, it is important to contact the City of Sweetwater at (325) 236-6313. Staff will contact Secure Vision of America, who will investigate and determine appropriate cause and resolution. If customers still have concerns, they should contact the City of Sweetwater at (325) 236-6313. For weekend or after-hour emergencies, customers can always call the City of Sweetwater 24-hour water emergency hotline at (325) 236-6952.

16. What if someone hacks into the new system? Will they be able to turn off my water service?
Secure Vision of America is installing meters that do not have the capability to remotely turn off water service. The data transmission system is individually encrypted and anonymous to help protect against intrusions.

17. How will the meter data be transmitted?
Data will be transmitted by radio frequency. Radio frequencies are non-ionizing and are safer than the IR light in your TV remote, cell phone, or even your microwave.

18. Is it safe for people to be around the equipment?
It is safe to be around the equipment. The power source is equivalent to two AA-batteries. The batteries are sealed in water-proof epoxy. The new meters are no different than the current iPerl meters with respect to safety, as the only difference is the transmitting frequencies.

19. How can I access the customer portal?
The customer portal called Get My Meter Info is currently under development. We will provide instructions to customers when it is available.

20. Will I get a notification if I have a leak at my home?
Yes, when the customer sets up their notification preferences, they can receive an alert of consumption that exceeds their thresholds and for a burst pipe. The City of Sweetwater will also monitor daily usage for customers and contact them for a possible leak.

21. How long will it take for water data to show up in the customer portal?
Data should be available within 4 hours of consumption.

22. Can I pay my utility bill on the H₂0 Analytics portal?
There will be a link to the City of Sweetwater payment page where payment can be made.