Pecos council approves SCADA transmitters, public works outlines leak‑detection and water system upgrades

Pecos City Council on Thursday approved a $209,548.54 contract with Black Rock Automation for transmitters that the city will add to its SCADA network and heard an update on several water and street infrastructure projects aimed at reducing water loss and improving pressure across the city.

Melvin Ridgeley, director of public works, told the council the new equipment will “allow us to detect leaks and stolen water in our well field,” and said the system will help pinpoint leak locations so crews can respond faster. "So the faster we can get to and to find out where it is contributes to less water loss," Ridgeley said.

The council approved the purchase as Resolution 25‑09‑04R. Ridgeley said the device is budgeted but the department reallocated funds from a planned vehicle purchase to cover a portion of the cost. He told the council the purchase includes one system composed of 11 pieces sited across the wellfield and that the unit should cover the entire field.

Ridgeley reported progress on several projects tied to the city’s 2030 strategic plan Goal 7, which directs infrastructure improvements. Among the items he listed: - Fire‑hydrant assessment and valve installations, about 25% complete; - Meter replacements, about 50–55% complete; - NBR (treatment) plant roughly 80% complete and in punch‑list phase to increase supply; - Sewer lift stations planned to go out to bid; - A citywide pressure improvement Phase 1 (looping dead‑end mains) to mobilize in mid‑October; - Wellfield upgrades and coordination with USDA to upsize small service lines that are mostly 1–2 inches now; and - Downtown street‑sign replacement, roughly 95% complete.

Ridgeley also reported that additional landfill trenches are complete and functioning. Asked by a councilmember how long the new trenches will last, Ridgeley said he had been told “maybe about five years,” adding the new landfill project remains under design and permitting.

The council asked about future meter and detection capabilities. Ridgeley said the leak‑detection purchase is a single system intended to cover existing transmission lines from all wells into town and that no additional units are required for the current wellfield.

The transmitter purchase was presented as a budgeted item with two bids noted in the packet; the Black Rock Automation price was approved by roll call as the staff recommendation. Council members voting to approve were recorded on the meeting minutes as affirming the motion; the motion carried.

Why it matters: Public works officials said the new monitoring and pressure projects are intended to reduce unmetered water loss, improve water pressure for customers and support future development. Implementation will require coordination with contractors and forthcoming bid packages for lift stations and other upgrades.

The city’s staff presentation covered related utility projects and expected next steps, including upcoming bids for lift stations and contractor coordination for Third Street improvements. Councilmembers did not close the discussion with additional conditions beyond approving the resolution.

Additional details presented at the meeting included revised customer communications for yard meters and backflow testing, ongoing traffic rerouting during street work and weekly coordination meetings between contractors and staff. The public works director said the city meets weekly to review construction and communication plans and that customers will see some price adjustments for backflow testing handled through a contractor arrangement when testing is due.

The presentation and the Black Rock Automation contract are part of the city’s multi‑year capital work to stabilize supply, reduce losses and prepare distribution infrastructure for growth.