ALLENTOWN – Municipal officials are continuing to work on a project that will eventually see a new water meter installed in 700 homes in Allentown.
Councilman Rob Schmitt provided an update on the project during a recent meeting of the Borough Council.
Asked why officials are undertaking the water meter replacement program now, Schmitt said one reason is the equipment itself. He said the average life of a water meter battery is about 10 years and the average life of its components is about 20 years. Many water meters in Allentown are coming to the end of their useful life.
Schmitt said the second reason for the project is accuracy. He said residents and the borough are engaged in a contract in which each customer should pay the accurate amount for the water he uses.
“Accuracy is paramount,” the councilman said. “The consumer wants to know his meter is accurate and up to date, and to make sure the borough’s facilities are operating efficiently.”
In December, the council adopted a $2.9 million bond ordinance to fund improvements to Allentown’s water infrastructure. Funding is expected to be provided by the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust at a lower rate than a bank, he said.
The funding will cover the new water meters ($454,850), enhancements to the elevated water tank on the grounds of Allentown High School ($418,000) and improvements to the water treatment plant ($1.6 million), plus engineering, permit and design costs, Schmitt said.
The councilman said officials are expected to approve a wireless water meter that will be installed in a resident’s home, but which can be read by a borough employee from outside the home. It is expected the new meters will measure water in gallons, and not the current measurement in cubic feet.
Borough officials are planning to include information about the water meter replacement program with an upcoming water bill.
Officials will suggest residents give their home’s plumbing a “health check,” Schmitt said, to ensure a new meter can be installed without a problem. He said residents may want to have a plumber check the plumbing to make sure all pipes and valves are in good working order.
The installation of the new water meters is projected to occur between October and December. Installing the equipment should take about one hour.
“We are trying to make this as painless as possible for residents,” Schmitt said. “We are trying to give people as much notice as possible. We are looking forward to that process going forward. It’s time” for new water meters.
