HRS Catching Up On Water Loss Through Three Water Projects

Highlands Residential Services taking steps to answer its water leak issues with three projects in progress.

Executive Director Dow Harris said once completed, the housing authority will catch up on its water budget. It finished the 2021 fiscal year $120,000 over budget.

“We got water construction in progress in Baxter,” Harris said. “We have bids to open soon at Willow Heights, and we’ve already planned and met with the town of Monterey who is receptive for us to do the same thing in Baxter.”

The ongoing Baxter project will install a new system and remove the master meter from the authority’s housing. On completion, Baxter will read the installed individual meters. Harris said the same project is planned for Monterey which enters the design phase.

“I think once we get those three development within those two towns and Willow Heights, I think that we’ve stopped the bleeding on the water loss,” Harris said.

Board Member Jim Martin said the extra expenses served as a learning experience to better existing systems. Harris said the housing authority will still regularly monitor the systems once the cities take over.

“We’re reporting leaks,” Harris said. “That is a weekly discussion in the staff meeting. We had a leak, where is it at, we’re looking at the cost and we’re forecasting each development on an individual basis. We’re looking at it weekly and seeing where the trends are going. Water has been expensive for us.”