GALLIPOLIS - Earlier this spring, contractors started replacing large commercial water meters in Gallipolis with new ones containing modern technology.

The job is expected to wrap up by sometime this summer, but in the meantime the workers with RPC Mechanical have their work cut out for them.

RPC workers recently completed the first round of replacing residential water meters throughout the city. They now are focusing on residential meters that require more extensive work, and the commercial meters.

The commercial ones range in size from two to eight inches, said Kevin Ryan of RPC. On Wednesday, Ryan and his crew were on Shawnee Lane replacing a meter that serves the Gallia County Dog Shelter and the Gallia County Local Schools' administrative offices.

Replacing the commercial meters involves digging the meter pit out of the ground. Each one is replaced with a new, larger pit that will make future maintenance easier, he said.

Barring problems, each commercial meter takes six to eight hours to replace, Ryan said.

Like the residential meters, city water employees will be able to read the new commercial ones remotely, Ryan said.

The meter project is designed to save the city money by reducing the time it takes to read the meters. It also will increase revenues because the new meters are more accurate than the old ones, city officials have said.

Some of the meters being replaced are as much as 50 years old, Ryan said.