Pipes in Chicago are frozen, and service waiting time is excessive

MangaReader said:
Usually water meters are outside on the side of the house. They are usually under a glass, round perhaps. We used to have a meter guy come every so often to check the meters. I used to watch him jump over fences. This was over 30 years ago. I wonder if they still do that.
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No, they don't. They've been prohibited from doing that these days for safety reasons, cause some of them have been shot at for doing that.
 
tuatara said:
It supports what you're been saying though. Lots of people don't have water meters, even though they pay for water (either directly to the company, or through their rent, etc.) It just means that they're paying some amount determined by the company that isn't related to their actual usage.
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Yes. Water meters are a rarity in my neighborhood. The only one I know of is just to the east of here, and that one sees quite a bit of use.
 
Here they at the surface of the ground in between the public walk and the street. They have a metal cover which a reader used to come around and take off to read the actual meter that is under the cover. Then a few years ago they converted to ones that are electronic and read remotely.
 
I can't agree on this one, where do you think city gets money to cover the cost of water treatment, and shit treatment? Often water meter is hidden, usually at where they aren't likely to get freeze… Sometimes at lowest point in basement somewhere, or outside deep underground. Here is caveat, the customer usually the one who is responsibly take care of meter, broken meter (out of normal wear and tear which is pretty much UNLIKELY), Customer pays for this damage meter.

Tenants usually don't see water bills if they live near great lakes, that is because the water bills near great lakes is very cheap, landlords don't want customer's water bill hit on their tax bill. Here if a property owner, not tenant fails to pay water bill, it goes to property tax bill. So, having rent include water bills avoid this from happen.

tuatara said:
It supports what you're been saying though. Lots of people don't have water meters, even though they pay for water (either directly to the company, or through their rent, etc.) It just means that they're paying some amount determined by the company that isn't related to their actual usage.
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Jane B. said:
Here they at the surface of the ground in between the public walk and the street. They have a metal cover which a reader used to come around and take off to read the actual meter that is under the cover. Then a few years ago they converted to ones that are electronic and read remotely.
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Ah, smart meters. Those are becoming common around here (albeit unpopular because it means increased prices for customers)
 
diehardbiker said:
I can't agree on this one, where do you think city gets money to cover the cost of water treatment, and shit treatment? Often water meter is hidden, usually at where they aren't likely to get freeze… Sometimes at lowest point in basement somewhere, or outside deep underground. Here is caveat, the customer usually the one who is responsibly take care of meter, broken meter (out of normal wear and tear which is pretty much UNLIKELY), Customer pays for this damage meter.

Tenants usually don't see water bills if they live near great lakes, that is because the water bills near great lakes is very cheap, landlords don't want customer's water bill hit on their tax bill. Here if a property owner, not tenant fails to pay water bill, it goes to property tax bill. So, having rent include water bills avoid this from happen.
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Dude, I live just over a mile away from Lake Michigan. That's where we get ours from.
 
diehardbiker said:
I can't agree on this one, where do you think city gets money to cover the cost of ...
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The customers still pay for water, but the amount they pay just isn't related to their usage if they don't have a meter. Based on the article I linked to, people without meters are typically paying much more than they would with a meter: the formulas they use to determine the water/sewage bills generally might higher than actual usage.
 
ChicagoBlue2 said:
Ah, smart meters. Those are becoming common around here (albeit unpopular because it means increased prices for customers)
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The increased prices or not depends on relationship between the actual usage and the amount figured by one of the other methods. Some may actually receive a reduction if they use less.
 
Jane B. said:
The increased prices or not depends on relationship between the actual usage and the amount figured by one of the other methods. Some may actually receive a reduction if they use less.
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That's true, but ComEd is installing smart meters around the region, and many people are unhappy about that, because it means that they can charge more.
 
ChicagoBlue2 said:
That's true, but ComEd is installing smart meters around the region, and many people are unhappy about that, because it means that they can charge more.
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I was under the impression that ComEd supplies electric service and we have been talking about water service.
 
Jane B. said:
I was under the impression that ComEd supplies electric service and we have been talking about water service.
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They do, and we are. Smart meters is the relation that both have, so I apologize for going just a little off topic.
 
Even with our severe water shortage if it drops below freezing you ALWAYS leave a faucet dripping. Put a big pot or bowl under it and use the water for something else.
Surprised that some weather stations do not mention this for areas that freeze.
 
Angel1989 said:
Even with our severe water shortage if it drops below freezing you ALWAYS leave a faucet dripping. Put a big pot or bowl under it and use the water for something else.
Surprised that some weather stations do not mention this for areas that freeze.
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Great idea! Another one of those things that is too simple for many of us (including me) to think of on our own.
 
Places in MI have been mandated, I think, to keep their water running. But I think I also read that they will not be charged for it though I don't recall how they proposed to do that. Perhaps a % off their water bills for this time period.


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Jane B. said:
Leaving water on can become expensive as well. I don't know how common it is but in the Southern Illinois town where I live, if living in a house, our water is metered and we pay by how much we use. The sewer charge is also based on the amount of water used.
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Same here.
 
MangaReader said:
Usually water meters are outside on the side of the house. They are usually under a glass, round perhaps. We used to have a meter guy come every so often to check the meters. I used to watch him jump over fences. This was over 30 years ago. I wonder if they still do that.
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Our water meter is in the ground, near the front sidewalk. The meter reader uses a digital device to scan it without opening or touching it.
 
Reba said:
Our water meter is in the ground, near the front sidewalk. The meter reader uses a digital device to scan it without opening or touching it.
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Wow that's different. I'm learning that there are different kinds of water meters.

Florida, I pay for water and sewer charge as well. Usually I use 1000-2000 gal per month.
 
ChicagoBlue2 said:
Ours isn't. Doesn't mean all houses here in Chicago don't have a water meter-- this house is more than 50 years old, so it's probably not required to have one.
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Umm no. Don't matter how old house was and easy to add water meter for ANY old water system. They use water meter electronic.

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