Water Meter Upgrades to Begin for Baltimore City, Baltimore County Customers

The first phase of Baltimore’s new automated water meter upgrade program, known as BaltiMeter, will begin the first week of September with installations in the City’s Mount Vernon and Pimlico neighborhoods. Meters will also be installed in Baltimore County’s Bowleys Quarters area. To more accurately measure how much water you’re using, current water meters will be replaced with automated systems, instantly sending your information to the billing office and eliminating manual read errors.

In this first phase of the BaltiMeter program, about 5,000 meters will be installed in Baltimore City and another 5,000 in Baltimore County. Officials expect this first phase will proceed slowly, allowing installers to take their time and gain useful information before the full deployment begins near the end of the year.

"Our residents deserve infrastructure and service designed for the 21st century," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. "We've been making do with old equipment and old systems that do not offer the efficiency or reliability that the people and businesses of Baltimore expect. BaltiMeter, which is more efficient, reliable, and accurate, will help change that."

"Soon, there will be no such thing as an estimated water and sewer bill," said DPW Director Rudolph Chow. "Our customers in the City and the County will have peace of mind knowing precisely how much water they are using, and can use that information to exercise better control over their water usage."

All customers, including those in the first phase of the installations, will be notified in advance of work commencing on water meters in their area.

About 203,000 meters will be installed in Baltimore City by April 2016. Another 204,000 will be installed in Baltimore County by April 2017. Baltimore City DPW provides water and sanitary sewer service to customers in both jurisdictions.

For more information go to www.cleanwaterbaltimore.org/baltimeter

Announcements

Alley Sweeping Comes to Baltimore Neighborhoods
Alleys in selected Baltimore neighborhoods will soon get weekly mechanical sweeping. Beginning Monday, August 4, custom designed sweeping machines will clean loose trash, grit, dirt, oils and other chemicals from the alleys in several areas of Baltimore. The neighborhoods, and the days they will be swept, are:

MONDAY: Belair-Edison and Panway-Braddish
TUESDAY: Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello, Mondawmin, and Parkview Woodbrook
THURSDAY: Reservoir Hill and Washington Blvd/Pigtown
FRIDAY: McElderry Park/Ellwood Park and Sandtown-Winchester/Hollins Market

The sweeping schedule was chosen to fall on days after regular trash collection. Residents are reminded of the importance of removing all obstacles from the alleys, and making sure any bulk items are put away. This will allow the mechanical alley sweepers to do a thorough job. As the sweeping is on a regular schedule, residents should not call to request service, but they may report any missed services to 311.

The neighborhoods in the alley sweeping program were chosen for wide, paved, and intact alleys, where the mechanical sweepers can be the most effective. Several of the neighborhoods that will get mechanical alley sweeping are also participating in the Municipal Trash Can pilot program. Together, the alley cleaning and municipal trash can programs should help neighborhoods stay pollution-free, vibrant, healthy places.

Mayor Now Accepting Nominations for Hispanic Heritage Awards
Mayor Rawlings-Blake is now accepting nominations for the 2014 Hispanic Heritage Awards. The awards recognize exemplary Hispanics who have made outstanding contributions to improving the quality of life in Baltimore's Hispanic community. For more information, contact Catalina Rodriguez-Lima by telephone at 410-396-8056 or catalina.rodriguez-lima@baltimorecity.gov Download nomination form

Join the Patriotic Movement to a Star-Spangled Summer in Maryland
O Say Can You See! Star-Spangled Spectacular is a free festival that runs from September 10-16, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of our national anthem. Baltimore residents, show your spirit by promoting Star-Spangled 200 and the Spectacular via social media! Plant red, white and blue flowers, fly the 15-star/15-stripe flag, dress up your family pet in patriotic costumes and post photos to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtag #StarSpangledSummer. Find out more at starspangled200.com/star-spangled-summer