“This brings us near a total metering rate of over 85 percent system-wide and we are continuing to replace meters at a rapid pace,” CUC Deputy Executive Director Alan Fletcher said.
Fletcher said the significant improvement in their meter installation and replacement program was a result of “excellent work” by the meter crews in customer service and the operation team led by Glen Dikito.
“Overall we have completed the more uncomplicated installations; meaning the ‘low hanging fruit’ has been gathered and the remaining are the more time-consuming meter installations and replacements,” he said.
Of the remaining unmetered accounts, he said, some are in locations that will require “extensive investigation to resolve.”
He said due to logistical issues, CUC asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the federal court additional time to complete the replacement of failed meters and the installation of meter accounts through Aug. 2012.
EPA wanted CUC to finish installing its new water meters by November 2010.
“The extra time will provide us the opportunity to complete the change-outs using current staffing levels and resources,” Fletcher said.
He said CUC is now meeting the deadline to replace all defective meters because the timeline has changed.
“As previously, reported CUC experienced numerous failed and defective water meters — the problem reaching back many years,” he said
He added that by all appearances, the failures are a result of manufacturing defects and CUC is successfully working with the supplier in obtaining replacement meters.
CUC, he said, has made great strides in the last year in replacing failed meters as well as documenting and installing of unregistered meters and accounts.
Fletcher said CUC has a sufficient supply of meters.
He said its central warehouse team led by John Mafnas not only tracks inventories and usage, they also are cataloging and testing failed meters for warranty purposes.
“They are doing an excellent job of meeting the manufacturer’s requirements for testing and are actively coordinating this work with our partners at water task force,” he said.
