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City outlines water and sewer upgrades, meter-pit rollout and options to avoid a $15M tank
Summary
Staff described a multi-year utilities plan that targets water loss (about 40%), recommends pump and generator upgrades, SCADA sequencing and a wireless meter-pit program (roughly $2,000 per home) intended to reduce water loss and delay a costly new tank.
At the budget workshop staff gave a detailed presentation on water and sewer capital needs and a meter-pit modernization proposal intended to reduce unaccounted-for water and defer construction of an expensive new tank.
Staff said the city faces roughly 40% water loss and that engineers are recommending multiple investments: restore pump sizes at the Claro well, add a generator to critical wells and lift stations, improve SCADA controls to sequence lift-station operation and pursue a phased meter-pit program that would move meters outside homes and enable wireless reading. The presenter estimated installation costs of roughly $2,000 per residence for meter pits and said a staged program (roughly $300,000 per year in early phases) could be used to target older neighborhoods and reduce total system demand.
Staff also described a large potential water-tank project (orders-of-magnitude estimate in the discussion: $15–20 million) that might be deferred if water loss is reduced and system capacity verified. On sewer, staff said the UV disinfection upgrade and related work could cost in the mid-millions and that a bio-reactor expansion would be an even larger multi-million-dollar enterprise (staff named a $28–32 million range as an illustrative, long-term scenario) requiring outside funding and developer interest.
Council members and staff discussed how to share costs if a meter-pit installation reveals private-service failures that require pipe replacement; staff said options include a cost-share model or city-funded initial installs with policy changes for new construction.
Staff recommended pursuing the meter-pit plan alongside targeted pump and generator upgrades and bringing a utility-rate consultant report to council for final decisions on funding and any resort-tax ballot options.
