Centre Wellington’s $2.9-million water meter swap nears finish

CENTRE WELLINGTON – The replacement of 4,656 water metres at homes and businesses in Centre Wellington is nearing completion.

There were at least 3,700 units replaced in Fergus and Elora between December and March, with remaining units to be replaced in a north corner of Fergus between now and June, according to the township.

The municipality is replacing old meters at a maximum cost of $2.88 million after determining 22 years of wear and tear was causing inaccurate readings and a potential revenue loss of more than $200,000 annually.

The old meters, which have a 15- to 20-year lifespan, were originally installed in 2003 when the township switched to metered water billing from flat-rate billing, and account for more than half of the 8,580 meters in the township.

To measure usage, water passes through a chamber and moves a disk, explained township water services manager Dino Masiero in responses relayed to the Advertiser in emails from communications manager Kendra Martin.

The number of movements indicates a certain flow of water has passed through the chamber at a set volume. But mineral buildup from the township’s hard water affects the chamber’s volume, causing inaccurate readings.

According to the township, assessed meters were 95% accurate last year, but the unregistered water totals “an estimated volumetric loss of 5,698 square metres” each month, or a volume roughly equivalent to filling the Fergus sportsplex pool 15 times.

“There should be no significant increase to water bills, and the water meter will measure volumes used on the property more accurately than the replaced meter,” Martin’s email stated.

Replacement of the meters, typically located in a basement or crawl space, is booked by appointment and takes between 30 and 90 minutes.

Newly installed Neptune T-10s are paired with an R900 ProCoder, installed outside the home, that wirelessly transmits water volume readings.

The data is collected once a month by a staff member with an antennae and specialized equipment that records readings while driving by homes, according to Masiero and Martin. It’s the same technology that was previously used.

Centre Wellington council awarded the job last fall to Neptune Technology Group, the only company to bid on the job.

“All meters that have been installed are the same type of meter, however vary in age and series numbers,” Martin’s email stated.

The $2.88-million “upset limit” approved for the replacement is above the $2.6 million budgeted and includes $84,000 to cover domestic tariffs on American-made products, and a $131,000 contingency to pay for the “replacement of non-meter components, plumbing corrections, minor carpentry, and other items that are to be encountered in various properties.”

The roughly $295,000 gap between what was budgeted and approved is to be funded from reserves.

According to the township, there have been at least three reports of issues potentially requiring repairs.

The township’s responses did not specify what the issues were, but stated “two of the issues have been investigated and fully resolved and one issue is in the process of being assessed.”

Around 140 residents hadn’t yet booked an appointment as of mid-March, and the township said it is not aware of any refusing to participate. Staff are reaching out to those who haven’t yet booked to arrange installs.