Water Meters
The water meters used by MAWA are designed and manufactured to accurately measure water usage. Due to normal wear, we replace our meters after 15 years of use. If your meter is scheduled for replacement, you will receive a notice for replacing your meter and our requirements for shut-off valves and backflow devices.
You will be given 30 days to bring your service up to today's standard. Please click on to view the Meter, Backflow, Shut-off Valves, Thermal Expansion Tanks, and Pressure Reducing Requirements to review our requirements.
How the Meter Works
The water meter is similar to your electric or natural gas meter. It is a mechanical device that can only register when water is passing through the meter. As a mechanical device the only way the nutating disc can turn is when water goes through the meter. The meter can not distinguish whether the water going through the meter is normal or if it is a leak. Click on the following to view the mechanical operation of the meter. How the Meter Works.
Access to the Meter and Remote
On occasions, MAWA needs access to our meter to confirm that the outside remote is reading the same value as the inside meter. We understand that meters are usually located in the basements where we sometimes personal items are stored. Because of liability reasons, the MAWA staff will not move boxes out of the way or create a path to our meter.
The meter reader must also have access to your remote for which your monthly bills are based on. If access is hindered by shrubs, trees, locked gates, or other obstruction, we will estimate your consumption for your bill.
We agree that dogs are your best friend, however a dog is not always the meter reader's best friend. Meter readers are instructed not to read any meter whenever a dog is present. Your bill will be estimated.
MAWA will work together with you if our remote needs to be relocated because of your prized shrubs, your family pet, a gate that needs to be locked or for other reasons. There is not any charges for relocating your remote.
MAWA Improving Water Meters for the Future
The new meters now being installed have a touch pad located on the outside of your home. When the meter reading device is attached to the outside remote, the device reads the actual reading of the meter. This new meter will reduce meter reading errors.
HYDRANTS
About our Hydrants
Although sometimes referred as "that darn thing that is located just where we wanted to park our vehicles", hydrants serve a very important purpose. Hydrants provide fire protection and reduce insurance costs for home and business owners. They are also used to "flush" the distribution system in connection with water quality and maintenance management.
Hydrant Flushing
MAWA flushes hydrants in the spring and fall to remove sediment that may cause customer complaints of dirty water. In addition to flushing hydrants, we "sound the hydrants" to detect leaks and ensure that the hydrant is operable in case of fire. Late in the fall we winterize and recheck the operability of hydrants.
Hydrant Winterizing
Winterizing hydrants consists of pumping out any water in the barrel that may freeze and make the hydrant inoperable. MAWA does not use any chemicals for winterizing to avoid contamination. Instead, we work closely with the City of Meadville Fire Department, Vernon Township, West Mead Township, and other hydrant users during the winter months. After each use the hydrant is inspected.
Hydrant Color Coding
In the Year 2000, the City of Meadville Fire Department and MAWA developed a plan to color code hydrants based on the possible fire flow. Together we adopted the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) rating for color coding fire hydrants. Although not a guarantee, the color coding system provides fire fighters with a quick check of available flow.
Improved Fire Protection Service
Working together, each of our hydrants was color coded and numbered as shown below to improve fire protection services in our community. In 2004, MAWA installed hydrant tags to improve the identification of hydrants.
