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Council approves mandatory advanced water‑meter ordinance after five‑year rollout effort
Summary
Ordinance 26‑22 was introduced and adopted to require advanced water‑meter replacement and enforcement; officials said roughly 1,600 homes remain to be upgraded and the ordinance allows fines and, ultimately, municipal installation and liens for noncompliant properties.
On July 27 the East Brunswick Township Council introduced and approved ordinance 26‑22 to amend chapter 218 of the township code, establishing mandatory replacement of water meters with advanced metering infrastructure and new enforcement procedures.
Officials said the township has been pursuing replacement for roughly five years and that about 1,600 homes still need upgraded meters. Staff described enforcement measures in the ordinance — including adding a fine to quarterly water bills and, if necessary, the township arranging installation of a meter pit and placing a lien on the property to recover costs. Utility staff said many remaining properties are in homeowners associations or rental units, complicating outreach and scheduling.
Township staff said the change is intended to ensure fair billing and accurate consumption records; aging meters (some stated as 18–40 years old) can under‑record usage and shift costs onto other ratepayers. The council discussed outreach and scheduling (nights and weekends) and said the township will use in‑house crews to accelerate completions once the ordinance is enacted. After discussion the council moved, seconded and approved the ordinance by roll call.
