01-23-2006 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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t;OUNCIL MEETING R�QUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION JAN 2 3 2006 DATE: January�3�'��C�RONO ITEM NO.: I � Deplrtment Approv�l: Administrator Reviewed: Agend� Section: Name Greg Gappa f � Public Services Director's Report Title Director of Public Services � � Item Description: Ptuchase Radio Read Wat�f'Meters and Sump Pump Inspections Radio Read Water Meters The City is currently using water meters with an outside remote reader on the building,and there are still houses with the original 35 year old water metets being used. These meters require manual reading by public works personnel every quarter.There are approximately 1,200 water meters in the City which requires about 300 man hours for meter reading and daia input each quarter. The remote readeis, on the outside of the buildings, are problematic and require additional staff time to repair. If the reader is not working properly, it can also be difficult to arrange a time to get into the house to read the meter. These older meters lose accuracy over time and under meter the amount of water actually used. In 2004,the City began a progranl to upgrade to radio read water meters for all new construction,the replacement of existing malfiinctioning meters, and we also try to replace meters whenever a plumbing pern�it is issued. This technology includes a transmitter on the water meter and allows for reading the meter from outside the house using a hand held receiver. This eliminates the need for an outside remote reader, and also the need to manually enter meter readings into the billing software. The meter reading data can be downloaded from the hand held reader directly into the billing software. We have already installed 150 new radio read meters. Funding has been in accordance with the City's long standing policy of the property owner purchasing the first meter for new construction, from the City, and the City then replacing existing meters at no cost to the property owner. Our policy is consistent with the majority of area cities. Installing new meters is also beneficial as the older meters lose accuracy over time and under meter the amount of water actually used. The City's goal is to eventually upgrade all water meters to the radio read meters. MCES Infiltr�tion and Inflow Reduction Program The City has had a long term problem with the Infiltration and Inflow (I&I) of cle�r water into our sanitary sewer system,and for the last ten ye�rs we have been participating in MC�S grant and loan programs to complete I&I reduction projects. The MC�S has just completed a new more comprehensive �tnd scientif c I&I study and has determined that I&I in the meh•opolit�n system is contributing to sewer backups and ihe preinature use of reserve cap�city in the sysiem needed For ftriure development. They h�ve correl�ted measui•ed wastewater flows with the October 5, 2005 rainfall event and provided each City 1 graphical representation of their I&I goal which is based on the expected peak design flow for the population served. This inforniation for Orono is shown on the 1