How to save money on your water bill

PITTSBUREGH — Checking your monthly bills can sometimes make you cringe.  But, Pittsburgh residents may soon get some relief on their water bill.  Channel 11's Katherine Amenta investigates this money-saving upgrade.

Drilling will be a common sound coming to Pittsburgh neighborhoods this summer.

And despite alerts from Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, many people don't even know it's happening.

“Usually not until I start drilling,” said a PWSA installer.

Channel 11 went with PSWA to get a behind-the-scenes look at these new automated water meter readers that could soon help save you money.

Crews are installing 78,000 meters at homes and businesses.

We found out the wireless technology will allow customers to check their water consumption at any time and they can also receive text message and email alerts about possible leaks.  It’s all ways to save on your bill.

“Yea I think it's a good idea,” said PWSA customer Bill Toliver.

This phase of this project should be wrapped up around September, then next year, all the information from the box you can get on your phone.

But, Toliver does have concerns.

“They’re putting all these new boxes in and what's it going to cost the consumer?” asked Toliver.

It's a valid question -- will it cost you?  I posed it to PWSA's Melissa Rubin.  She told me the meters are installed free of charge. She added that PWSA will save about $120,000 dollars a year.

"(The) customers' monthly fee will remain the same," said Rubin.  "But it's important for us ... to keep our costs low so we can maintain rates."

WPXI