Findlay to begin replacing water meters

FINDLAY — Findlay Council has been asked to appropriate $200,000 to replace old water meters throughout the city. Council heard the first reading of legislation that would authorize city administrators to advertise for bids and enter into contracts for the project during regular session on Monday. The ordinance appropriates $100,000 from the Water Fund and $100,000 from the Sewer Fund to Utility Billing's meter replacement program. The legislation includes emergency language, which means it will become effective immediately upon approval. Emergency language bypasses a 30-day stay on legislation approved by council that allows for public review and possible citizen referendum. The money will be used to purchase the meters, and city crews will complete the replacements as needed. In a letter to council, dated Aug. 10, City Engineer Jeremy Kalb said the meters to be replaced are at the end of their useful life and there are concerns about their efficiency. He said the work will ensure the city's meters remain accurate, reliable and efficient, and continue to provide quality service to the city's water customers. In late 2023, Findlay finished a $5 million project that outfitted the city's 20,000 water meters with new transmitters. The plan was to gradually phase out the old 2G transmitters, but the old system failed in December 2021, leaving the city unable to collect the data remotely. It was originally anticipated that it would take until 2026 to install all the transmitters.