MANCHESTER – Those in the eastern service area will be getting new water meters, likely by early next year.
Council approved a $3 million bond for the purchase and installation of new water meters. The money will be financed through a state environmental infrastructure financing program, which Mayor Kenneth Palmer said allows the township to borrow that money at a very low interest rate.
As with all such times any township goes out to bond, it will likely take at least six or so months before all the I’s are dotted and T’s crossed.
“The water meters on the east side of town need to be replaced. They’re aging out. We’re having some issues with them” Palmer told The Manchester Times.
The new meters will allow the township to collect usage data remotely, rather than sending township employees out to each and every meter to read them. This will ultimately lead to cost savings for the township.
“So now we don’t have to go to each individual house. We’ll press a button, the signal will go out, the data be collected, so not only are they going to be updated meters, we’re going to save on manpower, so our guys can then go work on other projects that need to be done,” Palmer said.
The eastern service area generally includes homes and businesses along Route 37 and those east of Route 37 and the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
Details about from whom the township will purchase those meters and how residents will be notified on upcoming meter installations are forthcoming.
