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North Augusta plans automated water-meter upgrade, phase 1 targets 1,791 meters
Summary
Public services outlined a multi-year automated meter reading (AMR) program funded by ARPA and capital-sales-tax proceeds; phase 1 will replace about 1,791 residential meters at a stated cost of $434,828.
City public-services staff presented a plan to convert more of North Augusta’s manual water meters to automated meter reading (AMR) technology, describing the project as a multi-year upgrade intended to improve safety, efficiency and leak detection.
James Sutton, public services, said phase 1 targets the replacement of approximately 1,791 residential meters at a total cost of $434,828. Funding sources identified in the presentation included the state and local fiscal recovery fund (ARPA) for the initial phase and capital project sales tax (CPS-5) for the broader multi-year rollout.
Sutton outlined key benefits: improved reader safety (particularly for confined-space pits), reduced labor time, fewer vehicle miles and faster access to usage data. He said the city currently has roughly 9,403 manual meters and about 2,490 AMR meters already in place from past installations in new developments; the plan would place AMR units on main thoroughfares and confined-space locations first.
Sutton described the AMR system’s components — the meter/transmitter, a data-collection vehicle and a central server — and said readings are collected wirelessly when a city vehicle passes within range. He contrasted manual reading speeds (about 59 meters per hour using a golf-cart-style reader) with AMR read rates (about 253 meters per hour using a vehicle-mounted collector on the same routes).
The presentation listed an implementation schedule starting with meter notification to customers, installation kickoff in June (pending meter deliveries) and a phased installation program that will be continued under CPS-5 funding; staff said they expect to spread purchases over multiple years to smooth lifecycle replacement costs and to complete a citywide AMR conversion around 2032.
Sutton said the city has been coordinating with Aiken County about phasing and will continue to install AMR meters in new developments and confined areas as they are built.
Councilmembers asked about vendors; Sutton identified Badger Meter as the supplier for the current procurement. Questions about whether crews would still use golf carts were answered: the city will use a mix of trucks and carts until installations are complete.
No formal vote was taken; staff said the AMR project would return as a capital project and purchase item for council consideration under CPS-5 funding.
