Onancock to upgrade water meters, shift to monthly billing

The Town of Onancock will begin upgrading all residential and commercial water meters on September 15 as part of a project to improve accuracy, speed service, and identify leaks or unusual usage more quickly. Work is expected to continue through January 15, 2026.

According to Town Manager Matt Spuck, the upgrades will replace existing meters with new remote-read units. Crews will need to temporarily shut off water service for about 15–30 minutes at each location during installation. The town plans to notify customers in advance by email and urges residents to ensure their email address is on file.

While the work is underway, water bills will be based on each account’s average historical usage to ensure consistent billing until the new meters are fully operational. Once the project is complete, the town will move to a monthly billing cycle beginning the first day of the month following completion. Officials say the change will help customers better manage costs and detect unusual usage sooner.

Residents are asked to keep meter areas clear, secure pets if meters are behind fences, and run cold water briefly after service is restored to clear air or discoloration.

Project updates and schedules will be posted at the Onancock Water Meter Replacement | HRSD website. Questions can be directed to Spuck at 757-787-3363 or matt.spuck@onancock.com.