Commerce hopes to replace up to 500 old water meters and acquire water leak detection equipment for half price.
The city council voted Monday night to pursue a $575,000 loan from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority in which half the principal amount will be forgiven.
Bryan Harbin, director of water and sewer operations, explained that the city’s five-year capital improvement plan already called for spending $50,000 a year to replace water meters that are up to 20 years old.
“This would allow us to accelerate that,” he pointed out. He also predicted that savings from increased water sales could enable the city to recoup its costs in “three to four years.”
“People don’t want to hear this, but a water meter starts slowing down the day it’s put in the ground,” Harbin told the council.
The city has already submitted a pre-application for a GEFA “Green Project” loan, and Harbin said Commerce had the second highest score of seven applications selected for funding. The council’s vote Monday night allows the city to make formal application for the money.
Harbin said the leak detection equipment and the meter replacement program will also help the city comply with the state’s new water conservation program, which takes effect in 2012.
He also speculated that the city will pay off the loan once the project is completed, using either water and sewerage SPLOST money or leftover bond money.
