PWSD#3 of Daviess County has installed radio read meters which work with a transmitter placed in the meter lid. We ask that customers be careful if removing lids to avoid any disruption to the signal or damage to the transmitter.
New billing software will be implemented Oct. 1, 2018. Customers will now have the option to receive bills via email. A web portal will also be available for online bill pay or to sign up for a recurring draft using a checking, savings, or credit card account. Information will be provided on the back of the billing cards, or you can call the office at 660-663-2771 for assistance.
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PWSD #3 Water Dept. installs new smart meters
by Troy Lesan
Here’s the good news about the installation of new remote radio-read water meters.
Even though it has been the standard procedure for 50 plus years, the task of physically checking each individual water meter each month is tedious and time-consuming. The new system, the Kamstrup Smart Meter, offers tremendous savings on labor. It will allow PWSD #3 to closely monitor usage and, more importantly, stay on top of water leaks which can be costly to both customers and the water district.
PWSD employees can actually stand at roadside with a smart-phone or a tablet, take multiple readings, and, if necessary, instantly pull up over a year’s worth of data if necessary. Readings are then transmitted and stored in the data base
PWSD vehicles are equipped with a transmission antenna, and when Roger or Gary log into the system, the first thing that appears is a map display showing each meter. When it is time to take a monthly reading, the meters will be lit up on the display until read. The smart meters are also equipped with warning lights that indicate a leak alarm or when the temperature in the pit is getting too cold.
Other water districts with the new style meter report water loss reductions. Water loss is a major problem that in varying degrees plagues all water systems. Recently, I heard of one water district (I won’t mention names) that experienced a 30% water loss in a month. Ouch! Water loss is the difference between the amount of water processed (which is metered at intake) and the amount of processed water billed. We like to stay under a 10% monthly loss; sometimes we achieve as low as 5%, but recently, our water loss has been higher. Small wonder – in installing the new units Roger Barker has found almost 50% of the old meters to be worn out and shot. The timing on this project is good.
It is anticipated that the new smart meters will pick up everything from slow-flow leaks to even an occasional dripping faucet. And yes, they are a labor saving device, except for right now when Roger and Gary are in the process of upgrading the entire system. They’re really humping.
These new meters are a significant expanse – as reflected in those minutes from the PWSD monthly meetings – but funds for the cost are being made possible by the fact that 2019 will be the last year of making payments on the long term financing bonds that were issued during the water district’s creation.
Gary King (right) displays one of the new radio-read water meters while Roger Barker (left) holds the transmitter attachment.
