Sarasota, FL:  A contractor for the City of Sarasota will begin Phase II of the City’s water meter replacement program in two weeks.  The contractor, Pedal Valves, Inc., will replace 150 water meters throughout Sarasota beginning Mon., July 13, 2009.  The work crews will be wearing yellow or blue shirts with the logo “PVI Meter Team” and driving trucks with the same logo.  They also will be carrying a letter from the City of Sarasota Utilities Department explaining why they are in the neighborhood.  This is the same contractor which replaced 100 water meters earlier this month.

Pedal Valves, Inc. was hired to test the accuracy of water meters within the City.  As part of that process, work crews will remove and replace 150 meters.  It should take 10 – 30 minutes for the replacement, during which time the customer’s water will be shut off.  The 150 customers who will be impacted will be notified in advance with a door hanger.

The water meter tests are being conducted as part of the City’s energy conservation program.  The City plans to convert approximately 17,000 meters to an automatic meter reading (AMR) system to improve service and reduce meter reading and maintenance costs.  The new technologically advanced system will allow meters to be read from radio receivers in moving vehicles or from fixed receivers. With reduced costs, the AMR system is expected to pay for itself.  There will be no charge to existing water customers and no rate increase to pay for the new system.

If you have any questions please contact Javier Vargas in the Utilities Department:
365-2200 ext. 6210  or  Javier.vargas@sarasotagov.com

For more information, please contact:
Jan Thornburg, Public Information Officer (941) 954-2613
jan.thornburg@sarasotagov.com