Rio Grande City approves contract to replace customer meters, vendor agrees to hire locally

Rio Grande City commissioners approved purchase and installation of new water meters tied to a Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund project, authorizing the city to move forward with full implementation after a successful pilot.

The city has already installed pilot commercial meters and staff said those replacements contributed to a roughly $700,000 increase in water and sewer revenues through improved metering. At the Aug. 28 meeting commissioners approved moving ahead to equip the wider customer base with new automated meters and accepted the vendor’s sole-source designation for the TWDB project.

Why it matters: The meter replacements are part of a TWDB SRF-funded program that city staff say will reduce unmetered losses and improve billing accuracy citywide. Accurate meters affect revenue stability and the utility’s ability to maintain and fund capital programs.

What the commission approved

- Contract authorization to purchase and install new meters from AquaWorks (sole-source for the project per TWDB approvals) for an amount staff cited as approximately $2,565,374 for full implementation, subject to final contract details and site conditions. Staff said the pilot replacements already have improved revenue collection.

- A condition discussed at the meeting: commissioners asked the vendor to prioritize hiring local labor to assist with installations. AquaWorks representatives told the commission they are based in the Rio Grande Valley and will “use their best efforts” to hire local personnel for the project.

Staff presentation and vendor comments

- Public utilities director Ruben Salinas briefed the commission on the pilot work and broader implementation plan and described strong revenue results after earlier commercial meter replacements.

- An AquaWorks representative said, “Our Works Pipe and Supply is, from the Valley. We're located here in the Valley... we're committed to projects that help the communities. And anything we do, we try to involve local personnel.” The representative added the company is flexible on project phasing and will work with city staff on difficult-to-reach installations that might incur extra charges.

Costs, timeline and next steps

- The vendor’s current full-implementation figure cited to commissioners was $2,565,374. Staff said that number will be refined as crews assess individual meter locations; installations that require extra excavation or special equipment may carry additional per-site charges.

- The TWDB has already provided SRF guidance and approved the vendor as sole source. City staff said the contract will be finalized and executed, with work phased to limit service interruptions. Commissioners specified an expectation that the vendor and city attempt to hire locally and coordinate installation logistics to keep disruption to a minimum.

Ending: The commission’s approval authorizes the city to finalize the meter project procurement and move to the installation phase pending the final contract and TWDB paperwork.