Site work for a water / sewer project in Wilmette, Illinois. Conceptual plans call for site work for a water / sewer project.

The Village has approximately 9,000 water meters installed throughout the distribution system that are read on a quarterly basis. Meters are replaced based on age and usage, with an average life of 13-20 years. As water meters age, they tend to slow down and under-register water use. Between 2007 and 2014, the water meter replacement program suffered a reduction in replacement due to the acceleration of the automatic meter reader (AMR) installations and staff attrition. This led to a backlog of meters in need of replacement. By the beginning of 2016, the percent of meters that were older than 15 years had increased to almost a third of all meters in Wilmette or almost 3,000 meters. In 2016, the Village Board approved a funding increase in the meter replacement program in order to clear the backlog and maintain a 15-year replacement rate. As a result, only 18% of all meters (or 1,607) are over 15 years old. As of February 22, 2024, this project is included in the city’s 2024-2033 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Construction funded for FY2024-2033. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.