North Beach Water Meter Upgrades Nearly Complete

4 August 2025
Category: SJC News Infrastructure
Tags: 2025

New smart meters boost accuracy and conservation following utility acquisition

St. Johns County is nearing completion of a sweeping water meter replacement project in the North Beach area, marking one of the first major infrastructure improvements following the County’s acquisition of North Beach Utilities in November 2024. The Office of Public Affairs produced a video to highlight the project.

Since April, crews have been working to replace aging water meters with modern advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems. The project is now 90 to 95% complete, with most homes already receiving new blue meter boxes and lids.

“Most of the meters in the area were aging—20-plus years old in many cases,” said Robby Kling, Utility Field Supervisor for St. Johns County Utilities. “The average lifespan of a typical water meter is about 10 years in terms of efficiency, so changing them out helps us get accurate usage for our residents.”

The transition to AMI meters allows for hourly data reporting, which improves billing accuracy, enhances leak detection, and promotes long-term water conservation.

“With the old meters, we had to physically go out, wipe the glass off, and read them manually,” Kling said. “You had human error with manual reads. Now, it’s all electronic—every five to six hours, the meters talk to our towers and send readings back to us.”

In addition to reducing errors and maintenance time, the AMI system offers homeowners access to an online portal, where they can view their hourly water usage, detect irregularities, and better manage their consumption.

“Residents can actually go online and see their usage,” Kling said. “If you do have a leak going on in your house, we can notify you now. That wasn’t possible with the older meters.”

The upgraded system also plays a key role in supporting water conservation efforts across the County.

“We’re in a unique business where, yes, we sell and supply water—but at the same time, we don’t want you to use it unnecessarily,” Kling said. “Water is a finite resource. These new AMI meters help us help you detect leaks, save water on your bill, and keep your bill low.”

The North Beach Water Meter Installation Project is part of the County’s broader commitment to providing reliable service, advancing sustainability, and modernizing infrastructure in newly acquired utility service areas.

For more information on St. Johns County Capital Improvement Projects, please visit www.sjcfl.us/featured-projects.