News 12 at 6 o'clock / Thursday, September 9, 2010

AUGUSTA---Is your water meter being read properly? The city is calling for an investigation after employees admit to "estimating" some readings.

We found local water meters covered in dirt and leaves.

"That shocked me," said water customer Peggy McBride about her neighbor's meter. "I said, 'Oh my Lord! They can't even read that.'"

Linda Reynolds keeps getting water bills despite the condition of her meter.

"It is my word against their word that they are coming and doing their job," said Linda.

We called the utilities department. The department claimed they read Linda's meter a week ago.

"You're saying that meter was covered with inches of dirt, leaves, and spider webs in one week?" we asked.

"I'm just guessing," said Steve Little, assistant director at the utilities department. "You mean the total conglomeration of all those leaves? No. I'm not saying that at all."

We had to question if workers are simply bypassing reading meters by making estimates instead.

"Not really," replied Steve. "It's not possible."

That statement soon changed. There are cases in which the city makes estimates.

"Very rarely," said Steve. "Only when we know of a meter that doesn't work."

How does the department come up with the estimates?

"Past history," said Steve. "We go back to the prior year or the prior month."

"That's a problem," said Commissioner Corey Johnson. "It makes no sense to say that a meter is not working so we have to make estimates. If there is a problem we need to fix it. That is what we are going to look into."

The issue goes before Augusta's Engineering Services committee Monday.