HAGERSTOWN – The Hagerstown Mayor and City Council approved a water meter transceiver trade-in program this week that will allow the city to replace aging meter-reading equipment while receiving a discounted purchase price.
The action authorizes the city to participate in a 12 percent trade-in discount program offered by LB Water, the city’s water meter supplier. The program will transition the city to newer radio-based transceivers before existing units become obsolete.
City water utility staff outlined the proposal during the Jan. 13 work session, noting that roughly 3,000 transceiver units currently in service will no longer be supported after 2028. The devices are used to remotely read water meters and generate customer bills.
Under the program, older units will be traded in toward the purchase of new M-Series transceivers, reducing overall costs and avoiding future disposal expenses. Officials said many of the outgoing units were originally obtained through warranty replacements rather than direct purchase.
Staff members also said the upgrade will be phased in through mass meter exchanges, expected to begin once weather conditions allow, instead of replacing units only after failure. The new transceivers are projected to have a service life of up to 20 years.
While the council’s vote approved participation in the trade-in program during the Jan. 20 work session, officials said a separate purchase exceeding $500,000 for the new equipment will be brought forward at a future meeting as a consent agenda item.
Council members supported the program, citing cost savings, long-term planning and reduced risk of service disruptions. The upgrade is part of the city’s broader effort to modernize utility infrastructure and maintain reliable water service for residents.
