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Public Works presents options to replace aging water meters; rolling program would swap ~44 meters/year
Summary
Public Works Director Dan Merkh outlined two meter-replacement models: a 'cliff' replacement averaging $350 per meter and a rolling lifecycle replacement replacing roughly 40–50 meters per year to avoid capital spikes; meters carry a 10-year warranty.
Public Works Director Dan Merkh presented two options to manage aging water meters: a 'cliff replacement' approach that proactively replaces meters at the start of their 13th year with an average replacement cost of $350 per meter, and a rolling lifecycle program that would replace approximately 40–50 meters annually (about 44 per year) to avoid large capital spikes. He emphasized monitoring customer complaint frequency and random testing to identify failed units and to minimize premature replacements while avoiding battery-failure risks.
Councilmembers asked about rebuildability and maintenance plans. Mr. Merkh said the manufacturer has rebuilt or replaced meters under warranty and provided parts, and staff will balance replacement versus maintenance when preparing budget proposals for the coming fiscal cycle.
