News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Some 320 new water meters have been replaced in Sparta.
Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the annual work is a part of Sparta’s meter program to get the city on a 10 year rotation.
“Because once the meter gets to a certain age, the percent it reads what we would like is 98 or better,” Quick said. “But what happens is when the meter gets older the accuracy fails.”
Quick said the wide spread replacements have been a success over the past three years. Quick said the some 1000 new meters have played a large role in keeping the city’s water loss under 25 percent.
“Our water loss is not just leaks or fire hydrants or sprinkler systems,” Quick said. “It is the reading of the meters, and this is the best way we can make sure our system is accurate.”
Quick said meter replacements have always been ongoing, but the city started following the program consistently three years ago. Quick said the department will begin creating a list for next year once the city budget is passed.
“It is really wide spread,” Quick said. “If you have an older neighborhood, must of the time the houses are built primarily in the same time frame, but as houses get built, these meters hit in different areas, because there are so many houses in different locations. So, we just have a list that we make every July.”
Quick said the department has reached its goal of 350 new meters each year. According to Quick, up to $35,000 is budgeted for the program.
