Northumbrian Water is set to replace 5,000 water meters across Blyth and Cramlington in an ambitious upgrade programme which starts this week.
Northumbrian Water is investing in new water meters for customers whose existing meters are more than ten years old.
Meter Teams will begin to replace the older equipment with the new meters which have a smart capability, meaning in the future, customers will have valuable information on their water consumption and the ability to identify if they have a leak within their property at their fingertips.
The new water meters in Blyth and Cramlington are part of ongoing work by the water company to improve customer service, save water and find leaks faster to help manage resources and protect the environment.
The company will be notifying those who are eligible for the upgrades via letter and email in the coming weeks.
Gary Adams, Head of Metering Operations at Northumbrian Water, said: “We are committed to investing in improvements for our customers and the sustainability of our water supplies here in the North East.
“It is important the equipment we provide is up to date to gives our customers a more detailed way of monitoring usage. The new meter can provide regular readings, which can be accessed near real time on our app or online, meaning more accurate bills and empowering our customers to understand how small changes in water consumption can have an impact on their bills.
“We’re very proud to be starting these replacements and we hope to roll our new smart meters out to 350,000 properties across the North East in the next five years.
“For those not on a water meter we often find that the average household could save money by having one installed. Furthermore, around 25% of water used in the home is heated so converting to a water meter is not only a simple way to support you in reducing your water bill, but it can also help you to reduce your energy bills too.
An ambitious business plan, outlining planned investments from 2025-2030 was announced by Northumbrian Water in Autumn 2023. The significant investment into innovation and infrastructure, will safeguard water supplies for the future, improve water quality and continue to support customers with their water usage and bills.
To find out more about your water consumption and the benefits of a water meter visit: www.nwl.co.uk/watermeter