Pine Cove Water District Sees Progress in Smart Meter Data Transmission Fix

At the March meeting of the Board of Directors of Pine Cove Water District, General Manager Jeremy Potter reported that the trial installation of a remedy for the poor data transmission of the new “smart” meters has begun to show good results. The new “mesh” system uses a network approach to data transmission from the meters, with more distant units communicating with neighbors until the data can reach the office.

The ten transmitters successfully sent their data to the office from one of the zones where the “machine cellular” units were failing. The ten units will be moved to other zones to confirm that the system will work everywhere. The goal is to have daily, or even real-time reads that will find leaks quickly and accurately. The trial units were provided at no cost to the district. In the meantime, many meters will have to be read manually.

Production continues to be lower than the last two years; 1.8 million gallons compared to 2.4 million. Potter attributed last year’s higher production to leaks and said that staff are “staying on top” of leaks this year. They noticed that water in the tanks near the highway, feeding the lower zone, were falling, and were able to trace the loss to two residential meters through the “smart meters” installed last year. Potter dryly referred to this success as “miraculous” because of the spotty performance of the new system’s transmission of data. One of the houses was losing 21 gallons per minute, the other 10.

The static monitoring well continued to fall, declining a little over a foot to 76.57 feet. With recent snowfall the level is expected to begin rising.

Office manager Jennifer Hayes reported that the changeover to the new billing and customer database software is going well. The company was “very responsive and communicative every step of the way.” The switch is going so smoothly that they have reduced the “implementation fee” that was part of the purchase price. Hayes said she thought the conversion will be completed by the end of the month. She also said that the former billing software provider has received a letter from the District notifying them that PCWD is interested in litigation.

One of the Dutch Flats wells is “nearing the end of its life” and ready for a new pump, while another needs adjustment before being brought back online. The refurbishment is not budgeted, but Potter said there was enough money to undertake the work.

Negotiations, including offers and counter offers, continue the parcel of land between Franklin and the highway.

Potter was satisfied with the in-house refurbishment of the District’s vehicle fleet. The 2013 Tacoma, with a new engine installed by staff and a new transmission, is back in service. Paint was purchased for three vehicles, which are now, one by one, turning silver. When the flatbed truck, used for snow plowing, has its turn, it will also receive a better system of lights for improved visibility in fog.

The next meeting is scheduled for April 9.