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Village to pursue grant for hydrant sensors after presentation on leak-detection system
Summary
Village officials heard a presentation on IHydrant sensors that monitor pressure and temperature around the clock. Staff recommended pursuing a Susan River Basin Commission grant due Jan. 31 to test roughly 20 units; estimated project costs range from about $70,000 to $140,000 with an annual subscription fee.
Trustees discussed installing a hydrant‑mounted leak‑detection system after a presentation by Kennedy/IHydrant representatives on Nov. 21.
Brian, a Kennedy/IHydrant representative, described a sensor that sits in the hydrant valve and measures pressure and temperature 24/7, sending alerts when thresholds are crossed. He said retrofits run about $3,500 per hydrant — including installation — while a factory‑installed unit is about $7,000; an annual subscription he cited runs about $300 per unit. "We capture time main breaks so the water department's not coming in at 7 in the morning when they start getting phone calls from residents that they don't have water," Brian said during the presentation.
Village staff highlighted the operational problem the system addresses: the village reported roughly 38% non‑revenue (lost) water and a regulatory obligation under the basin permit to reduce loss to under 20% by 2027. Don in the water department said the technology would help crews narrow where leaks occur but would not replace annual leak detection work.
Trustees and staff discussed scale and costs. The vendor estimated an initial deployment of about 20 units as a starting point — final unit count would follow an engineering study and GIS mapping. The board was told that a grant through the Susquehanna (Susan) River Basin Commission is available and that staff can include subscription fees in early grant years, as larger municipalities have done. Manager Nathan Nel asked staff to draft a grant policy and bring a resolution to the board at the Dec. 5 meeting so a January submittal is possible.
No procurement or contract was authorized at the Nov. 21 meeting; trustees instead directed staff to pursue the grant opportunity and return with an engineering study and a recommended procurement path. If the board moves forward, staff said they would complete a hydrant spacing study to refine the unit count and expected costs.
Next steps: staff will prepare a grant submittal and a procurement plan for board consideration on Dec. 5 and provide an engineering-based recommendation on the number and placement of units.
