Tulsa will install automated 'True Reads' water meters at more than 145,000 homes starting in 2024; lead inspections to be performed

The City of Tulsa plans to install automated water meters at more than 145,000 residential locations beginning in 2024 and continuing over the following four years, a city presentation said. The program — called True Reads — will replace manually read meters with automated reading technology, the presentation said, and city staff listed operational and customer benefits including reduced need for property access, fewer estimated bills, lower long-term meter-reading costs and fewer employee injuries.

Officials said the city will provide a three-step notification before crews work at a home: an online map showing neighborhoods where crews are working, a door hanger one to two weeks before a scheduled visit, and the contractor’s day-of knock on the door to confirm the appointment. Presenters said meter swaps will require a brief outage on site — a maximum of about 30 minutes — and recommended residents run water for a few minutes after the swap to restore line pressure and clear any cloudiness.

As part of each meter replacement, crews will perform a lead service line inspection to identify and document the service-line material. City staff said they do not expect many lead service lines remain but that crews will document any found and post inspection results on the online map. The presentation directed residents to the city’s True Reads webpage (cityoftulsa.org/truereads) for more information and FAQs.