WATER METER INSTALLATION PROGRAM: BLANDFORD-BLENHEIM TOWNHALL April - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

OXFORD COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS WATER METER INSTALLATION PROGRAM: BLANDFORD-BLENHEIM TOWNHALL April 26, 2016 DEBORAH GOUDREAU, P.ENG., MANAGER OF WATER SERVICES www.oxfordcounty.ca/water-wastewater

BLANDFORD-BLENHEIM WATER SYSTEMS By the numbers…  3 municipal systems (Bright, Drumbo, and Plattsville)  4 communities served (Princeton interconnected with Drumbo)  7 groundwater wells  Approximately 1,180 customers  Predominately flat rate accounts (only 22 metered accounts) Preparing for water meters  Homes in municipal water systems that were constructed after 2000/01 included a “meter spacer” to simplify the installation process

WHY METER WATER? Equity/Fairness  A flat rate fee means everyone pays the same amount regardless of how much is used  No recognition of the number of individuals in the household or their consumption patterns Water Conservation  Canadians are water wasters  Finding new sources of water or expanding water or wastewater facilities is expensive Water Loss  Without metering water it is difficult to know how much water is being lost to leaks (ties back to water conservation)

BACKGROUND – METERING OF WATER IN OXFORD COUNTY Pre- Three water systems (Tillsonburg, Ingersoll and 2000 : Norwich) have residential water meters installed all other systems have commercial metering only 2009- Installed water meters and automated meter 2011 : reading (AMR) equipment in Woodstock 2011: Conducted a business case for implementation of water meters and AMR equipment in the rest of the County’s systems 2015: Reviewed Woodstock meter reading system performance and compared with the 2011 business case recommendations  Confirmed business case recommendations  Performance is better than anticipated and with lower meter reading costs

SCOPE OF WORK AMR Equipment  Supply of approx. 18,500 Itron 100W radio transmitters (ERTs)  Supply of ERT reading equipment  Awarded to Wolseley Waterworks Canada for $1.56M in September 2015 Water Meter & Installation  Supply of 13,200 water meters (Sensus SR II for residential)  Replacement of water meters where existing meters 11 or more years old  Installation of both water meters and ERTs  Awarded to Corix Water Products for $4.0M in December 2015

PROCESS Installation Process  Introductory letters will be sent to customers announcing a public meeting  Booklets explaining the process will be mailed to properties once Corix is active in an area  When booklet is received, it is time to book your appointment  Booking can be done on-line or by calling Corix  The length of the appointment will vary depending on the amount of work to be done  The area around the meter must be cleared so the contractor can access

BOOKLET

TIMELINES Entire Project  Corix will move through the County area by area  Must complete one area before moving onto the next  Corix must make 6 attempts to contact the property owner and have the work completed  Completion of entire project by Spring 2017 Blandford-Blenheim  Started in Area 1 (Tillsonburg)  Area 2 for installations  First installations expected summer 2016  Should be able to move into Area 3 fall 2016 Participation is MANDATORY

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN  Introductory letters  Delegation to Township Council  Media release  Recurring newspaper and radio ads  Public open house  Distribution of booklets

Questions? www.oxfordcounty.ca/water-wastewater