The new water meters wirelessly deliver water usage information and service notifications such as leak alerts to the City’s Water Resources Department and you, its customers. With the previous water meters, City staff drove by homes and businesses to physically collect water meter readings. 

Convenience
By 2025, Water Resources' GSO WaterWise customer portal will be online. This tool gives you access to daily water usage information, real-time water leak notifications, and news and information feeds about the department's projects, to name a few features. More information will be posted on the GSO WaterWise page closer to the portal’s availability.

Privacy
City staff will make fewer visits to homes and businesses to collect readings. Also, on-site investigations for reading verification will decrease as confirming meter data can be accomplished remotely.

Efficiency
Replacing aging infrastructure with up-to-date technology is part of the City’s responsibility and service to residents. The functionality of these new water meters and timely communication of usage information to you results in more efficient billing.

Meter reading will be accomplished remotely, with few exceptions. However, City staff may periodically visit homes and businesses for maintenance activities or equipment inspection.

Yes. The water meters the City selected exceed health and safety standards set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

In fact, radio frequencies (RF) emitted by these new water meters are much lower than other common devices such as microwaves, TVs, cell phones, baby monitors, laptops, and Wi-Fi routers. Check out this comparison graphic.  (Spanish)

Read more:

FCC Radio Frequency Safety 

Sensus Meter RF info

World Health Organization Facts - Electromagnetic Fields & Public Health

Radiation Exposure from Smart Meters

Your security is a top priority for the City. These new water meters will record your usage information, encrypt it, and wirelessly deliver it to Water Resources' billing system.

No personally identifiable information such as names or addresses is stored or accessible by the meters or their software.

Readings will only be used for billing purposes, leak detection, and to analyze and improve system performance.

No. Your privacy is important to the City. Your water usage data will never be shared without your permission or request. Water Resources maintains strict confidentiality and privacy policies and uses state-of-the-art technology to safeguard your private information.

The City kicked off its GSO WaterWise meter upgrades with about 600 meters in a concentrated initial deployment area. Full deployment of meter upgrades started in winter 2021 and is scheduled to finish in the next four years.

Concord Utility Services will perform the upgrades on Mondays through Fridays and Saturdays (as needed) from 8 am to 5 pm.

You will be notified in advance about your upgrade via mail, email, and/or phone. You do not need to be home for this service to take place. Concord technicians will leave behind a notice (Spanish) on your door after they have completed your upgrade.

Representatives from Concord Utility Services, a City contractor, will upgrade your water meter. They are recognizable by their vehicles, uniforms, and identification badges. If you have questions or concerns, please call 336-373-CITY (2489).

When finished, the Concord representative will leave behind a notice (Spanish) on your door with information on the work performed. 

The City has carefully planned adequate funding for this program as part of its 10-year capital improvement plan to address aging infrastructure.

However, water rate increases are still needed periodically to:

• Replace and maintain water and sewer infrastructure (pipes, plants, pumps, water towers, etc.)
• Ensure uninterrupted service and meet regulatory requirements
• Accommodate the capacity needs of a growing community's new residents and employers.