Edina to replace 14,000 aging water meters over four years
The Edina City Council received an update on a major infrastructure project that will replace the city's outdated water meters with new technology. The $14,000-meter replacement initiative, funded through the city's capital improvement budget, will modernize the water system at no cost to residents.
The city is launching a four-year project to replace approximately 14,000 water meters that have reached the end of their useful life. The current meters, which are about 14 years old, are becoming inefficient and underreporting actual water usage. "A typical lifespan of a water meter is 10 to 20 years old," a city official explained. "They will start to be inefficient where they will start reading less water than is actually going through the meter."
The replacement effort begins this year with 5,000 customers scheduled for installation. Residents will receive scheduling letters starting in April. The new meters include transmitters that enable instant, remote readings, allowing the city to switch to monthly billing and detect leaks early. "Getting those meter readings every month allows us to possibly capture high usages due to toilet leaks or irrigation programming mishaps or even a leak in the winter months that the homeowner does not know about," a city official said.
Ferguson Waterworks has been contracted to manage the project, working with vendor partner RMR Services to handle installations. Commercial businesses will receive priority scheduling outside business hours to minimize water service disruptions during meter replacement.
The project is fully funded through the city's capital improvement budget, meaning residents will not face direct charges for the new equipment. For more information or to verify the project's legitimacy, residents can contact the Edina Public Works Department's utilities division.
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City-wide Water Meter Replacement Project Update
The project involves replacing approximately 14,000 water meters over four years, starting this year with 5,000 customers. The old meters, which are 14 years old and becoming inefficient, will be replaced with new ones that include a transmitter for instant, remote readings. This upgrade will allow for monthly billing, early detection of leaks (e.g., toilet leaks, irrigation mishaps), and improved customer service. Residents will receive scheduling letters starting in April, and installations will be managed by Ferguson Waterworks and its vendor partner, RMR Services. Commercial businesses will have priority scheduling outside business hours due to water shut-off requirements during installation. There is no direct cost to residents, as the project is funded through the capital improvement budget.
A typical lifespan of a water meter is 10 to 20 years old. They will start to be inefficient where they will start reading less water than is actually going through the meter.
The company that we contracted with is Ferguson Waterworks. They are uh managing the project from their end, and they uh have their vendor partner, RMR Services, and they have a technician that will come out and replace that meter upon schedule.
Getting those meter readings every month allows us to possibly capture high usages due to toilet leaks or irrigation programming mishaps or even a leak in the winter months that uh the homeowner does not know about.
There is no direct cost to the resident. This project was incorporated in our capital improvement project budget for us to get this done within the next four years.
Source document
Water meters throughout the city will be replaced over the next four years. It's a project aimed at improving efficiency, water conservation, and customer service. Edana TV shows us how new technology is making this possible and what residents and customers can expect when it's their turn for a new meter. >> Every home depends on it. A resource that takes energy and infrastructure to deliver. But the 14-year-old equipment used to measure water use is wearing out. >> A typical lifespan of a water meter is 10 to 20 years old. They will start to be inefficient where they will start reading less water than is actually going through the meter. >> Starting this year, the process of upgrading over 14,000 water meters in the city begins. Uh before there's an install, you want to check your um main valves. So, there's going to be an incoming and outgoing valve. Uh make sure that they are working properly. They shut your water off completely. Sometimes they're just completely corroded. Sometimes they'll leak. Um you just want to make sure everything's working properly and we can shut the water off all the way. Got to remove the old meter and loosen up each side. Typically, you'll have water in here, but this one's been drained. Letters will begin arriving in April, which will include scheduling information. Residents won't need to call the city. >> The company that we contracted with is Ferguson Waterworks. They are uh managing the project from their end, and they uh have their vendor partner, RMR Services, and they have a technician that will come out and replace that meter upon schedule. >> We get our gasket set with clear access to the old meter. The installation should take 30 to 45 minutes. For commercial businesses, it is a priority to schedule that outside your working business hours because your water will have to be shut off for a period of time until the meter is installed. >> To read those old meters, city staff must drive within radio range of every home in business, a process that can take up to four or 5 days every month with the current system. Along with the new water meter, >> pull, pull, pull. A transmitter will be attached outside the home to broadcast a signal to a nearby receiver mounted on a water tower or other structure. After the upgrade, water usage can be measured instantly by city staff and build monthly. >> Getting those meter readings every month allows us to possibly capture high usages due to toilet leaks or irrigation programming mishaps or even a leak in the winter months that uh the homeowner does not know about. and you won't get a bill for the new equipment. >> There is no direct cost to the resident. This project was incorporated in our capital improvement project budget for us to get this done within the next four years. >> Addresses with the oldest meters will receive letters first with about 5,000 customers set to receive new meters this year. I'm Dan Carpenter for Adina TV. >> To learn more about the water replacement project, visit edina.gov/meterreplacement. GV/meterreplacement. If you're unsure if a letter, phone call, or visit is legitimate, you can contact the Edina Public Works Department's utilities division at 952-826375 to verify. Okay.
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