Middletown to install new high-tech water meters – Times Herald-Record

James Nani Times Herald-Record @JamesNani845

MIDDLETOWN - A large-scale replacement of city residents' water meters is expected to begin in the next few weeks, part of a $12.7 million conservation project approved last year.

The first of nearly 8,000 state-of-the-art Sensus water meters arrived last week at the city's former water-treatment plant near Monhagen Lake.

Subcontractor Professional Meters Inc. isstaging its operation there as it gets ready to canvas the city and install the meters in homes and businesses, according to Jacob Tawil, commissioner of the city's Department of Public Works.

The new meters will be attached to radio transmitters and will beam hourly radio signals providing information to the city about water usage.

About 7,500 homes and 400 businesses will get new meters, Tawil said. Letters will go out to recipients in the next few weeks.

Older meters will be collected and stored for about a year in case residents lodge complaints about the new ones.

The installations are expected to take from April to October.

Tawil said the new meters will be more accurate, will allow people to see exactly how much water they're using and will save on manpower because city workers won't need to drive by homes and businesses to pick up radio signals.

But Tawil said the biggest reason for the change is to save water.

"I've been trying to do this forten of my lasttwelve years here, since I've been at City Hall," Tawil said.

According to the Sensus website, the meters are able to capture low-flow water that other meters cannot- flow rates as low as 0.1 to 0.3 gallons per minute.

The meters will also allow users to check online and monitor leaks and drips to help save water.

The installation, which Tawil said is expected to cost about $5 million, is part of a $12.7 million package of energy- and water-conservation projects for which the city has hired Energy Systems Group (ESG), based in Tennessee.

Middletown is using bonds to pay for the work.

The upgrades are ongoing. The city is preparing to install solar panels next to the water-treatment plant to reduce the plant's energy costs.

Old boilers and heating and cooling systems in several city buildings have been replaced.

And last week on West Main Street, subcontractors climbed up ladders to replace incandescent bulbs with LED lights.

In total, the changes are supposed to save the city $18.6 million over 15 years, according to the contract.

If the energy savings aren't met, the contract says ESG will cut a check for the difference.

The project is supposed to be completed within 12 to 18 months.

jnani@th-record.com

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Middletown to install new high-tech water meters - Times Herald-Record