Eagar Town Council to roll out high-tech automated water meters.

Background

The Eagar Town Council recently approved upgrades to the town’s water infrastructure with a plan to roll out new automated water metering. During a recent council meeting, Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, or WIFA, grants were accepted for the water meters and fire hydrants.

The WIFA grants equaled more $1.3 million for the automated metering system and $70,000 for fire hydrants and pressure monitoring devices. The town was required to provide a 25% match, which amounts to a $445,000 for the water meters and $17,500 for the hydrants.

The match includes both cash and in-kind contributions. The grant funds are set to cover the cost of updating Eagar’s current metering system, including necessary software and hardware installations. The hydrant grant will replace old fire hydrants and add pressure monitoring devices to improve system efficiency.

The challenge

We started with a phone call to introduce who we were and the why behind Fortiline. I asked if they would be interested in a lunch to meet and discuss in more detail our meter line and how we would like to learn more about what they were looking for in a vendor and smart meter system.

They responded they would like to meet, and the lunch meeting was scheduled for the following week. Clint Lake and I met with the management team and the grandson of the founder of the town of Eagar. We encouraged an open exchange to lean more about the town, history, current meter solution, age of the system, what their goals were for the new meter exchange, who else they were talking with.

We exchanged information on how we were different, how we stand behind every product we sell and how we only sold one brand of meter - Kamstrup and why. We were transparent that this was not a low-price system, but a great choice for ROI and that are customers were the best references to follow up with.

We enjoyed the lunch and learned more about the town history, their families and the team that would be working with us if we moved forward. It was a very friendly conversation and exchange to just learn what Fortiline brought to the table and the exclusive meter brand that delivered best accuracy, captured the lowest flow rate and in turn delivered the highest ROI in the shortest amount of time.

The solution

The selection process for the vendor involved reviewing several proposals. Fortiline Waterworks was chosen as the vendor for the water meters and their installation, having presented the most comprehensive and cost effective proposal within the grant budget.

We addressed every question and provided a list of referrals to contact. I received a call back 3 days later that everyone she had spoken to stated Kamstrup was the best choice. Britney was very please with the references and shared the responses with the team. We also presented additional meter hardware with lifetime warranty and Innovative pipe repair solutions that had been vetted by other cities and new to them and they saw value in these creative solutions that would save time and money for the municipality.

Britney and the team commented on how we were able to address past problems and deliver creative solutions and follow up on every question that was posed over the decision process. Fortiline had received several emails to address specific issues, funding, installation, inventory availability, warranties, fittings, and timing.

Each email was responded to in a very timely manner. Eagar has also reached out to sister cities and town to discuss the level of support she received from Fortiline meter team. Fortiline made 2 additional trips to deliver meter fittings and to take pictures of the meter pits and scope the town assets for collectors taking a proactive approach to understand the dynamics of the town. We continue to provide other solutions outside of meters such as fire hydrants and pipe replacement.

We will continue to support the town not only through the meter exchange , but also for the future warehouse stock and waterwork materials to stock in their municipality shop. Taking an inventory of current parts and suggesting newer innovative solutions continues to provide a stronger relationship with the town and the value we bring as a complete team of professional working to keep a customer for life. We were the most expensive solution.

Over 60,000 higher than the 3 other bids that came in. When the competition asked why, they responded we brought more value and a much more comprehensive solution and a trained staff the made them fill comfortable to invest in a solution that would deliver a higher ROI and deliver a system that is known for quality. They also commented on our professionalism, and of the install team we introduced. We offered them the complete package from one vendor. They have a commitment from Fortiline to service and support them after the install for all their waterwork materials.

The new meters will be installed on the property of every home in Eagar using city water, starting in June, with completion expected by October. The automated meters will transmit usage data to the main computer system at Town Hall, reducing manual labor.

Key results

Installation of the new automated water meters by Fortiline Waterworks begins after June 1. RFI Engineering will set up radio towers to facilitate data transmission to the main computer system at Town Hall. This initiative is expected to save the town approximately 12 weeks of person-hours annually, enhancing both the efficiency and reliability of the water management system.