New units offer fixed base meter reading system, leak detection
By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
For several weeks, the Public Works and Buildings Committee has been discussing infrastructure improvements that would decrease the amount of wasted water, or Unaccounted For Water (UFW), with the City’s water system. With a goal to decrease the City’s current 18% UFW to less than 10% by September of 2019, the Committee discussed replacing all potable water meters in the system and to incorporate an online water main leak detection system.
The committee noted that lost water due to aging meters or leaky water mains waste not only water, but also taxpayer dollars.
The recommended projects are expected to increase revenues by more than $500,000 in the first year and annually thereafter. In addition, net operating costs will be lowered by about $125,000 annually for the next 20 years, the Committee reported.
The increase in revenue will be realized by the ability of the new meters to read consumption more accurately. Operating costs will decrease because the leak detection system will be able to find and fix small leaks before they become large and costly projects. Avoiding major repairs will save in overtime, electrical pumping cost, chemical costs and more.
Our aging infrastructure…
Not only is the City concerned with having 18% UFW, it is no surprise that the water meter system is aging and needs replacing. According to the Committee report, 70% of potable water meters currently in use are more than 25 years old. By exceeding their life expectancy, the meters are incorrectly recording amounts of water usage. Recent testing showed the current average meter in the Elmhurst home records only 94.5% of the water that moves through it. This accounts for 5.5% UFW that will be gained if the meters are replaced, amounting to 200,000 gallons per day. The report also says online detection will account for another 3% UFW, estimated at 111,000 gallons per day.
Just those two measures will reduce the City’s UFW by 10%, or less than 300,000 gallons per day.
The new meters offer benefits to the customers using the City’s water system. More accurate readings means more accurate and fair billing. The system will allow for daily meter reading, rather than bi-monthly as happens now. In addition, the new system offers a “customer portal” where the public can be involved in self-managing their consumption.
