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Town updates water meter project and federal funding status for distribution upgrades

Harpers Ferry Town Council · April 14, 2026

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Summary

Council heard progress on a multi-part water program: collector towers and radio communications for a new meter system, database updates required before phased installation, a WDA-funded Gilbert Street addition to a distribution contract, and pending federal appropriations for 11,000 feet of service-line upgrades contingent on EPA notification.

Town utility staff briefed Harpers Ferry council on April 13 about three connected water projects: the water-meter communications deployment, a WDA-funded distribution contract that now includes Gilbert Street, and planning for a larger service-line replacement effort tied to federal appropriations.

Staff said the meter project requires collector towers positioned for optimal radio reception, power hookups and cellular service connections; those locations must be coordinated with stakeholders, including the National Park Service because of historic resource concerns. The vendor will typically deploy in sections (roughly one-third of the utility at a time), and the council was told that the town must provide an updated meter database (serial numbers and mapping) for the subcontractor before installation can begin. Several meters are old or dead and need preparation or replacement before connection.

The WDA-funded Gilbert Street alternate is now added to the contract, bonds have been procured, and a preconstruction meeting was expected in the coming weeks. Separately, council was told that a maintenance and service-line upgrade package (over 11,000 feet) had been approved through appropriations committee and that EPA notification was required before the project could proceed; the mayor reported the town had discussed federal requests with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito's staff.

Council approved a yearly $1,700 maintenance contract for the water plant generator at the meeting and discussed steps to complete the meter project timeline (database scrub, site sign-offs, park approval for collector locations). Council asked staff to coordinate vendor, park and utility tasks to keep the meter deployment on schedule.