Water meters in Tempe will be swapped out or upgraded over the next few years to include automated technology to track water use in real time.

The Tempe City Council approved the project, which will be the first fully automated water metering system in the Valley.

“Using technology to provide better service to our residents is a smart move,” Mayor Mark Mitchell said. “This project is also a sustainable move. It will ultimately give all Tempe residents a tool to identify leaks as they happen, helping to conserve water and prevent unexpected charges on monthly bills.”

As it stands now, water meters are read manually every month, which makes it difficult to spot leaks or unusual usage in a timely fashion. Manual meter reading also requires extensive driving. Once the new technology is in place, staff will be able to read the meters remotely.

Future plans include a portal for water customers to access and monitor reports on their own water use.

Tempe’s installation contractor, Metering Services Inc., will conduct all the necessary work to exchange or upgrade existing meters without any service interruptions. Residents will be notified on their monthly statements once their meters have been upgraded.