Chicago water meter installations on hold

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Chicago water meter installations on hold

Jay Garrison
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
5y
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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  • Dan NelsonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Chicago and Kansas City · Member since 2016 · 96 posts · 88 votes
    5y

    GREAT question Jay.  I would love to see if anyone has had any luck finding a solution.

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  • John Clark
    Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y
    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).
    5Reply
  • Emanuel Rubio
    Member since 2020 · 7 posts · 4 votes
    5y

    Hello Jay, 

    Great post, I am currently house hacking in a non-metered two flat property in Chicago.  I appreciate the fixed rate water bill, as I don’t want any surprises. 

    What do you mean city put a freeze on meter installation? Are you referring to the entire program or just your property? 

    Best,

    E.


    please excuse any grammatical errors.



    1Reply
  • Jay Garrison
    OP
    Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
    5y

    @John Clark,

    I have no problem with the city being careful over who accesses the system, but I have been on the list for a meter install for awhile now; I got a notice about the suspension of the free meter installation from whoever administers the list. Calling to see when it will get moving again gets me nowhere. I suspect that the city is no hurry to  complete their investigation.

    My adlerwoman is of little help TBH. I am not sure what is and isn't in an alderperson's wheelhouse; but that said, she isn't as dialed in as I would hope she'd be.

    @Emanuel,

    I hear you about not wanting any nasty surprises. From what I understand through talking with other homeowners nearby and in posts here on BP, the best way to save on a water bill is by getting your service metered. If nothing else, you can see where the usage is, right? 

    0Reply
  • Mark AinleyBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Roselle, IL (Chicago Suburb) · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    @Jay Garrison I have heard that so long as you have a permit and your plumber pics up the new meter direct from the water department it is possible to do it yourself.  Now that is not free like the city was offering but you are seeing the costs add up doing nothing.  Let me follow-up with the plumber that I heard was doing this and report back.

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  • Jay Garrison
    OP
    Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
    5y

    @Mark Ainley

    That would be great, thanks! So glad to hear of this.

    0Reply
  • Jonathan KlemmBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Contractor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    @Jay Garrison - I have definitely never done this myself, I am checking with one of our long time Chicago plumbers so when I hear back I'll let you know what he says.

    I would likely bet if you called in you might be able to find out as well.  Maybe try the Chicago building or water department. 

    Heard back and our plumber confirmed a licensed plumber CAN install the meter but does have to get it from the city.

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  • Jay Garrison
    OP
    Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
    5y

     @Jonathan Klemm:

    Thanks for that information, it's really appreciated. I will contact the water department to see about getting a meter. 

    1Reply
  • Henry Lazerow
    Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    Only the city can supply the meter unfortunately and this has been going on for many months. I believe a class action lawsuit is the best course of action as the city is overcharging water (admittedly by their claims a water meter will lower bill). Most buildings thankfully have meters but it's definitely something to be conservative with in your numbers if not on the building already. 

    1Reply
  • Jay Garrison
    OP
    Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
    5y

    Update:

    Thanks again everyone for the suggestions. I think Henry Lazerow is right; only a class action lawsuit will perhaps get the city in gear.

    I was able to get in touch with a really helpful city employee at the Water Department who told me that yes, I could pay to have a private contractor do the work to the work... but it would involve laying new copper piping from the main, of course digging the trenches, and who knows what else. Basically a cost of between 10K and 20K. 

    The guy I spoke with told me he saw my name on the waiting list for the suspended water meter, along with more than 8000 other names. Given the cost of copper piping and the dire finances of the city, this is going to be a fight. What a hot mess

    1Reply
  • John Hu
    Member since 2022 · 12 posts · 16 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Jay Garrison:

    Update:

    Thanks again everyone for the suggestions. I think Henry Lazerow is right; only a class action lawsuit will perhaps get the city in gear.

    I was able to get in touch with a really helpful city employee at the Water Department who told me that yes, I could pay to have a private contractor do the work to the work... but it would involve laying new copper piping from the main, of course digging the trenches, and who knows what else. Basically a cost of between 10K and 20K. 

    The guy I spoke with told me he saw my name on the waiting list for the suspended water meter, along with more than 8000 other names. Given the cost of copper piping and the dire finances of the city, this is going to be a fight. What a hot mess


     so another year has gone by and nothing done by the city... I'm really surprise no group of property owners got annoyed and put together a class action.  

    0Reply
  • Jay Garrison
    OP
    Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
    4y

    7/20 Update

    I had a water meter installed today. Just one for the entire building, in the basement unit. A contractor for the city called me on Mon to schedule and they came out this morning, had everything done by 9ish. Free, and they ran copper piping. Apparently they are going by zip code. If you aren't registered with the meter save program, get in it now.

    Never before have I actually looked forward to receiving a utility bill! 

    0Reply
  • Paul De Luca
    Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    @Jay Garrison

    Good to know they're actually making progress with meter installations! I put myself on the waiting list right after I closed on my unmetered 2-flat.

    1Reply
  • Jay Garrison
    OP
    Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Paul De Luca:

    @Jay Garrison

    Good to know they're actually making progress with meter installations! I put myself on the waiting list right after I closed on my unmetered 2-flat.


     One of the guys who put the meter in asked me how much I was paying and told me I was going to save a ton. 

    0Reply
  • Craig Boudy
    Charleston, SC · Member since 2017 · 37 posts · 21 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Jay Garrison:

    7/20 Update

    I had a water meter installed today. Just one for the entire building, in the basement unit. A contractor for the city called me on Mon to schedule and they came out this morning, had everything done by 9ish. Free, and they ran copper piping. Apparently they are going by zip code. If you aren't registered with the meter save program, get in it now.

    Never before have I actually looked forward to receiving a utility bill! 


     WOW. I am in the exact same boat. I flipped a house with no meter and closed on the property. Title company is witholding $10k of my money until a FPC and water meter is installed. I had someone install a meter and thought all was good until the city came out and said there was no transmitter. I found a plumbing supply place in Chicago that sells meters with the remote and having to have a plumber come in and install it. It has been a month and half trying to get this done. 

    1Reply
  • Jay Garrison
    OP
    Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Craig Boudy:
    Quote from @Jay Garrison:

    7/20 Update

    I had a water meter installed today. Just one for the entire building, in the basement unit. A contractor for the city called me on Mon to schedule and they came out this morning, had everything done by 9ish. Free, and they ran copper piping. Apparently they are going by zip code. If you aren't registered with the meter save program, get in it now.

    Never before have I actually looked forward to receiving a utility bill! 


     WOW. I am in the exact same boat. I flipped a house with no meter and closed on the property. Title company is witholding $10k of my money until a FPC and water meter is installed. I had someone install a meter and thought all was good until the city came out and said there was no transmitter. I found a plumbing supply place in Chicago that sells meters with the remote and having to have a plumber come in and install it. It has been a month and half trying to get this done. 


     I sent you a PM. Good luck!

    0Reply
  • Jonathan KlemmBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Contractor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    @Craig Boudy - Thank you for sharing.  Why did the title company force you to hold the $10k?

    Chicago is a funky city to work with but not nearly as difficult as it feels at first.

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  • Craig Boudy
    Charleston, SC · Member since 2017 · 37 posts · 21 votes
    4y

    @Jonathan Klemm hello! They can’t get a FPC because there is no meter

    1Reply
  • Jeffrey Muehlfelder
    Member since 2019 · 11 posts · 6 votes
    4y

    I have both metered and unmetered rental property.  The city is definitely gouging unmetered accounts... it began under Rahm Emmanuel who found this a great way to raise revenue without "raising taxes" - he quadrupled umetered water bills in 3 years.  But there are two things you need to remember about switching to meters vs leaving them unmetered.

    1. As a landlord, I want all of my properties to be unmetered and the main reason is - 1 month of a toilet running continuously because of a bad $4 flapper will literally wipe out the entire year of savings between the metered rate and unmetered rate.  Its simply a bad bet if you do not have the most intelligent and most responsible tenants who would notify you immediately if their sink had a drip or their toilet had a leaky flapper.  I do not know of any Chicago investors who sub-meter their accounts so tenants can pay their own water bills but that would be the only way this makes sense in my opinion.

    and 

    2. Rahm turned the water department from a utility service into a revenue stream - if everyone were to switch to meters to lower their costs, the city isn't just going to be ok with collecting less money, they will simply raise metered rates to match the revenue they have now budgeted to collect from that particular stream of city revenue - which is why you are now seeing metered rates rising significantly this year as inflation causes costs to rise - they will always need to raise their revenue streams to match both their rising costs and their rising appetite for public funds to plunder.  

    Elections have consequences

    2Reply
  • Max Traveler
    Handyman · Miami, FL · Member since 2020 · 32 posts · 10 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Jay Garrison:
    Quote from @Paul De Luca:

    @Jay Garrison

    Good to know they're actually making progress with meter installations! I put myself on the waiting list right after I closed on my unmetered 2-flat.


     One of the guys who put the meter in asked me how much I was paying and told me I was going to save a ton. 


    Does the city give an option to meter each individual unit?
    0Reply
  • Jay Garrison
    OP
    Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 90 posts · 37 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Max Traveler:
    Quote from @Jay Garrison:
    Quote from @Paul De Luca:

    @Jay Garrison

    Good to know they're actually making progress with meter installations! I put myself on the waiting list right after I closed on my unmetered 2-flat.


     One of the guys who put the meter in asked me how much I was paying and told me I was going to save a ton. 


    Does the city give an option to meter each individual unit?
    I asked when the workmen came out and they told me no, but maybe if you ask in advance? 
    1Reply
  • Max Traveler
    Handyman · Miami, FL · Member since 2020 · 32 posts · 10 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Jay Garrison:
    Quote from @Max Traveler:
    Quote from @Jay Garrison:
    Quote from @Paul De Luca:

    @Jay Garrison

    Good to know they're actually making progress with meter installations! I put myself on the waiting list right after I closed on my unmetered 2-flat.


     One of the guys who put the meter in asked me how much I was paying and told me I was going to save a ton. 


    Does the city give an option to meter each individual unit?
    I asked when the workmen came out and they told me no, but maybe if you ask in advance? 

     Thanks, @Jay Garrison  

    HEY CHICAGO LANDLORDS,  Is it normal for Chicago landlords to eat the water bill?  Assuming City won't install a meter for each unit, is there an easy method to pass on the cost to the tenant without prorating based on headcount or SQ footage?  I understand that you could embed the water cost in the monthly rent but don't want to show the inflated upfront rate. Any idea?

    0Reply
  • John Clark
    Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y
    "They can’t get a FPC because there is no meter. "
    --------------------------------------------
    This makes no sense. It's actually easier to get a full payment certificate when unmetered accounts are involved because there's no meter to read. You simply take the current six-month charge and use that. Prior unpaid amounts are added and presto -- your bill. Trade your check for a full payment certificate.
    0Reply
  • John Clark
    Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Jay Garrison:
    I asked when the workmen came out and they told me no, but maybe if you ask in advance? 

    No. Sub-meters are not allowed. You have one meter per intake service pipe. That way the City doesn't get involved with allocation disputes, etc. One service line, one meter, one bill. 


    0Reply
  • Paul De Luca
    Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

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

    0Reply
    • Anne Connor
      Member since 2025 · 17 posts · 17 votes
      1mo

      Hi Paul,

      How did your meter installation go. If the lines are lead does the city require to replace the line before granting the FPC certificate?

      0Reply
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