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Reservoir leak and bacteria delays push North Phoenix Reservoir work; AMI meters promised to speed leak detection
Summary
Council heard that the North Phoenix Reservoir required additional repairs after leak tests and bacteria detection, and staff requested $75,000 to finish an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) rollout that will enable near‑real‑time leak alerts to reduce damage.
City staff told the council the North Phoenix Reservoir project, originally budgeted for completion earlier in the fiscal year, was delayed after contractor testing revealed floor cracks and persistent leaks; subsequent filling led to a positive bacteria test, requiring the reservoir to be drained and rechlorinated before it can be returned to service.
A staff member described the sequence: the contractor recorded measurements that the city later reviewed and found cracks; after repeated repairs the reservoir still returned a positive bacteria result and the city must drain and rechlorinate the tank again. Councilors asked where drained water goes; staff said contaminated water is taken to the ground and eventually rejoins the aquifer once properly handled.
Staff also asked the council to appropriate $75,000 to finish the AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) project. A staff speaker said AMI will allow the city to detect leaks within about 10 minutes, set automated thresholds, and provide an online portal and optional text alerts for customers—functions staff said will reduce property damage and improve responsiveness.
Why it matters: Reservoir contamination and prolonged outages can affect water quality and service; finishing the AMI rollout is intended to reduce future leak‑related damage and speed detection of system problems.
