‘Smart’ water meters to save money

RAYMONDVILLE — The city is gearing up to install high-tech water meters aimed at saving big bucks.

This month, officials are launching a $1.6 million project to replace the city’s old water meters.

Across town, that’s 2,809 meters.

“This is certainly a big water conservation project,” City Manager Eleazar Garcia said earlier this week.

He said the new digital “smart” meters will more accurately gauge residents’ water use.

And that means big savings.

As part of a financing plan, Garcia said, the city will enter into a capital lease agreement, paying annual amounts of $140,000 through 15 years.

The city plans to use its savings to pay for the project, Mayor Gilbert Gonzales said.

Every year, the city loses an estimated 15 percent of the 478 million gallons it pumps into its water distribution system, Garcia said.

The new meters will help cut that down, he said.

Garcia said the city projects a $300,000 increase in annual water revenue.

As part of the high-tech system, the new meters will transmit data to the city’s water tower, where an antenna will gauge residents’ water use.

“They’ll be more accurate,” Garcia said.

He said that will allow the city to phase out a department whose two employees’ job is reading water meters.

A study projects savings of $60,000 to $70,000 in maintenance and operational costs, he said.

Garcia said Snyder Electric, a Harlingen-based company, is guaranteeing those savings.

The project will allow residents to use a website to gauge their water use, he said.

Garcia said the city is expected to install all of the new meters by the end of the year.

Did you know?

The city loses an estimated 15 percent of the 478 million gallons it annually pumps into its water distribution system.