
Public Works Director Jim Massengill said the water meter replacement project is being funded through the New Mexico Finance Authority via the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund.
Massengill said the city received a grant/loan agreement for approximately $2.4 million. Of that amount, half the principal is forgiven when the project is completed because Deming qualifies as a disadvantaged community, and the remaining amount is a loan for 20 years at a maximum 1.149% interest.
Approximately 5,400 meters will be replaced including residential, commercial, parks and production wells.
The completed system will include electronic meters with integral antennas and fixed base transceivers to transmit data from meters to the office software.
The city will receive usage data daily, which will help alert officials to problems such as leaks, meters that may have been tampered with and stopped meters.
Massengill said the contractor is required to give residents 24-hours’ notice prior to installing their new meter.
He added that the city’s meter-reader positions are not being eliminated, because gas meters will continue to be read manually.
Massengill said they are looking forward to a new system that will minimize billing errors, increase office efficiency and improve water use tracking.