Chicago water meter installations on hold

Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes

Hello,

I have an unmetered rental property in Chicago and my water bill is ridiculous. The city has put a freeze (pardon the pun) on water meter installations while they "investigate" problems with old/lead pipes. Meanwhile, everyone is getting these enormous bills. I called a plumbing contractor about paying to get a meter installed myself and was told that only the city can install them. I've contacted 311, Citizens United.. no luck. Any advice? Thanks!

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John Clark

Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

Only the City can install a meter. They rightfully don't want anybody screwing around with the system, installing unapproved/inaccurate meters, etc. Problem was that installing meters was supposedly adding lead to the houses water systems. City was "investigating" but I never heard what the results were.

Unmetered billing is very high. I went from unmetered to metered and save in excess of fifty percent of the unmetered bill.

Good news is that installation is free.

Check with water department as to how you get on the installation list for when they do start installing again. Also, check with your alderman as to installations and when the City will start doing them again.

And don't forget to genuflect in the direction of the plumbers' union, which made sure Chicago REQUIRED using lead service pipes even though New York City banned its use in 1946 (why didn't we do the same back then?) and lead's been a known water poison since the Roman Empire (literally).

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Jay Garrison
OP
Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
3y
Quote from @Paul De Luca:

I just scheduled my water meter installation at my Chicago two-flat for next week. Has anyone else had this done recently?

How did it go? I am happy to have mine metered, but the fixture they put inside gets a bit noisy at times, nothing major.
0 Reply
Paul De Luca
Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Jay Garrison:

Quote from @Paul De Luca:

I just scheduled my water meter installation at my Chicago two-flat for next week. Has anyone else had this done recently?

How did it go? I am happy to have mine metered, but the fixture they put inside gets a bit noisy at times, nothing major.

I had to get the water tested for lead before I could schedule the meter installation, and by the time I got the results back, the deadline for scheduling had passed so unfortunately I wasn't able to have the meter installed. Did your bill go down? And if so by how much?
1 Reply
John Hu
Member since 2022 · 12 posts · 16 votes
3y
Quote from @Paul De Luca:

I just scheduled my water meter installation at my Chicago two-flat for next week. Has anyone else had this done recently?

how'd you get your water meter installed for a 2 flat? everywhere i tried it was only single family, Did you go through a service or something?
0 Reply
Paul De Luca
Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Quote from @John Hu:

Quote from @Paul De Luca:

I just scheduled my water meter installation at my Chicago two-flat for next week. Has anyone else had this done recently?

how'd you get your water meter installed for a 2 flat? everywhere i tried it was only single family, Did you go through a service or something?

This was the program I was trying to use - https://www.metersave.org/Mete...
1 Reply
John Hu
Member since 2022 · 12 posts · 16 votes
3y
Quote from @Paul De Luca:

Quote from @John Hu:

Quote from @Paul De Luca:

I just scheduled my water meter installation at my Chicago two-flat for next week. Has anyone else had this done recently?

how'd you get your water meter installed for a 2 flat? everywhere i tried it was only single family, Did you go through a service or something?

This was the program I was trying to use - https://www.metersave.org/Mete...

yeah thats the program every time i put in my information it rejected me... now its closed so the city is just having fun with the racket... i'm paying 400 bucks a month for water and sewer even though another building that has a meter is 75 a month for similar occupancy and usage
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Jay Garrison
OP
Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
3y
Quote from @Paul De Luca:

Quote from @Jay Garrison:

Quote from @Paul De Luca:

I just scheduled my water meter installation at my Chicago two-flat for next week. Has anyone else had this done recently?

How did it go? I am happy to have mine metered, but the fixture they put inside gets a bit noisy at times, nothing major.

I had to get the water tested for lead before I could schedule the meter installation, and by the time I got the results back, the deadline for scheduling had passed so unfortunately I wasn't able to have the meter installed. Did your bill go down? And if so by how much?

Hi Paul,
In April 2022 my water bill was $239, this year it was $64. May of last year was $244, so I will be watching carefully to make sure it stays lower in the summer when I hit my sad little garden. So far this year it has been $113 (Jan) $91 (Feb) and $102 (Mar) so I am pleased with the results.
1 Reply
Paul De Luca
Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Jay Garrison:

Quote from @Paul De Luca:

Quote from @Jay Garrison:

Quote from @Paul De Luca:

I just scheduled my water meter installation at my Chicago two-flat for next week. Has anyone else had this done recently?

How did it go? I am happy to have mine metered, but the fixture they put inside gets a bit noisy at times, nothing major.

I had to get the water tested for lead before I could schedule the meter installation, and by the time I got the results back, the deadline for scheduling had passed so unfortunately I wasn't able to have the meter installed. Did your bill go down? And if so by how much?

Hi Paul,
In April 2022 my water bill was $239, this year it was $64. May of last year was $244, so I will be watching carefully to make sure it stays lower in the summer when I hit my sad little garden. So far this year it has been $113 (Jan) $91 (Feb) and $102 (Mar) so I am pleased with the results.

Wow, what a difference! Good to know.
1 Reply
Max Traveler
Handyman · Miami, FL · Member since 2020 · 32 posts · 10 votes
2y
Reviving the old thread.. anyway to get water meter installed in my triplex??
1 Reply
Jay Garrison
OP
Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
2y
Hi,'
Looks like the Meter Saver program is kaput. There is some new thing called Lead-Safe, hopefully that is actually true to it's purpose of offering lead line replacement. The city never did get back to me about replacing my lead pipes. Instead, besides the meters, they sent me two water filters. Wowsers.
2 Reply
John Clark
Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Jay Garrison:

Hi,'
Looks like the Meter Saver program is kaput. There is some new thing called Lead-Safe, hopefully that is actually true to it's purpose of offering lead line replacement. The city never did get back to me about replacing my lead pipes. Instead, besides the meters, they sent me two water filters. Wowsers.

Two different programs. Sounds like you need to talk to someone who is willing to actually check on the status of the meter program, not the lead pipe program.
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Jonathan KlemmBusiness Member
Moderator
Contractor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
2y
Two water filters = Jackpot! @Jay Garrison I know you feel the debt of gratitude that you owe to the city of Chicago!
Plus our water here in the city is actually already pretty great!
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Jay Garrison
OP
Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
2y
Quote from @Jonathan Klemm:

Two water filters = Jackpot! @Jay Garrison I know you feel the debt of gratitude that you owe to the city of Chicago!
Plus our water here in the city is actually already pretty great!
Hahaha, yes my cup runneth over!

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