MONROE - There are 604 water meters that still need replacing in the city, and residents or business owners who have yet to schedule an appointment to do so have until April 1. After that, their water will be shut off.

Appointments, which are also being offered in the evenings and weekends, can be scheduled through the Monroe Public Works Department at 608-329-2595.

Residents must be home in order for city employees to enter the basement as part of the replacement process, which is free. The current meters needed replacement every 10 years, but the new ones have a life expectancy of 20, according to Colin Simpson, Monroe's director of public works.

In mid-March, a 10-day-notice reminder will be sent to those not in compliance.

Meanwhile, Simpson reports that 1,200 of the city's 4,500 meters remained unchanged beginning the first of the year, but a productive January with 579 replacements put a big dent in the process and gave the city some breathing room.

"The staff did a great job, working nights and weekends," he said. "We averaged 29 per day and did as many as 40 in a single day."

However, during the process a couple of water thieves were discovered.

"We found a couple of cases of bypassing (the meter)," Simpson said. "We'll be back-charging those customers."

He said a dollar amount has not been determined.