The Village of College Corner has completed installation on remaining water meter reading systems.  New meters have gone in and are up and running as of late October throughout the water district, which includes parts of Union County as well as Butler and Preble counties (Ohio). 

With a grant the village received, they were able to connect an electronic tracking system through a device that fits under the lid of the meter. This new endpoint receives data and sends digital updates four times daily. This can digitally indicate when abnormal usage occurs.  In several examples since its implementation, the new meter system has detected simple fixes such as running toilets or leaky outdoor pipes.  

In the case of landlords, most of whom might not see the inside of their properties daily, the system can catch an issue within days, before a larger problem occurs and arises at the end of the billing cycle. Village Fiscal Officer Jennifer Sims Woods noted that some former meters were between 12 and 20 years old, decreasing in precision as they mechanically wear out over time.  

She says the new portal called BEACON can help prevent billing issues that stem from water loss, allowing accurate readings daily and detecting early leakage. Woods thanked the community for their patience as the system has been updated and improved, and encourages users to log on the villageofcollegecorner.com to see rates and updates posted. 

For individuals hoping to better monitor their water, a website called EyeOnWater.com (linked through the QR code) allows residents to track their own water usage. By entering an account number and billing zip code, an up-to-date reading on their property is available. 

Residents can track and manage their home's water use, as well as better regulate automatic flows in areas like barns. As we move into the season of travel and freezing pipes, this website can be valuable to residents who want to keep an eye on their own water!