Water Meter Installation and Lift Station Rehab
Water Meter Installation and Lift Station Rehab
Modernizing Water Infrastructure and Revenue
For Texas cities and utility districts, water meters are the cash registers of the municipality. Over time, mechanical water meters wear out, lose calibration, and fail to record low flow rates. This “non-revenue water” results in substantial financial losses for the city. At the same time, aging wastewater lift stations suffer from pump clogging, failing check valves, and outdated controls, risking raw sewage overflows and environmental penalties.
E3 provides comprehensive, turnkey water meter installations and lift station rehabilitation services, replacing inaccurate meters with smart technology and overhauling critical transfer stations to secure your utility revenue and operational safety.
Our Water Meter and Lift Station Services
1. Smart Meter Upgrades (AMR and AMI) We replace old mechanical water meters with solid-state electromagnetic or ultrasonic smart meters that have no moving parts, ensuring accuracy for their entire 20-year lifespan. We install:
- AMR (Automated Meter Reading)
Drive-by or walk-by radio systems that allow utility staff to collect meter readings instantly, reducing labor costs. - AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure)
Fixed-network systems that transmit hourly usage data directly to city hall via radio towers, enabling real-time leak detection alerts for customers and utility staff.
2. Utility Billing Integration E3’s IT and integration teams ensure your new AMR/AMI system communicates seamlessly with your existing utility billing software, automating invoice generation and minimizing billing disputes.
3. Lift Station Pump Replacements We replace worn-out, inefficient lift station pumps with modern, high-efficiency non-clogging submersible or self-priming pumps. We size pumps to handle peak wet-weather flows, reducing energy consumption and pump runtime.
4. Valve and Control Overhauls We replace failing check valves, gate valves, and air-release valves to prevent backflow and water hammer in your force mains. We install modern control panels equipped with:
- VFD pump controllers
- Reliable float switches or transducer level sensors
- SCADA telemetry systems to monitor pump runs, wet well levels, and power failures remotely.
Funding Infrastructure through Revenue Recovery
Water meter upgrades are highly self-funding. Old meters typically under-register water flow by 5% to 15%. By installing accurate smart meters, the city captures this unbilled water usage, instantly increasing utility revenue without raising water rates.
E3 packages meter installations under Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs). Under this model, the guaranteed increase in billing revenue is used to pay for the new meters and lift station overhauls over time, requiring zero upfront taxpayer capital.
Turnkey Design-Build Delivery in Texas
Through our Design-Build process, E3 manages the entire infrastructure project:
1. Detailed Audits and Testing:
Testing a representative sample of existing water meters to verify under-registration rates.
2. Product Sourcing:
Partnering with top-tier meter manufacturers (like Badger, Neptune, or Sensus) to secure the best pricing.
3. Professional Installation:
Managing meter swap-out crews and mechanical contractors during off-peak hours.
4. Cooperative Procurement:
Pre-approved on BuyBoard and TIPS, E3 helps public entities bypass traditional public bidding while maintaining complete legal compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should our city upgrade to smart water meters?
Upgrading to smart water meters (AMR/AMI) significantly improves billing accuracy, captures previously unbilled usage (non-revenue water), reduces labor costs by eliminating manual reads, and allows for real-time leak detection, directly increasing municipal revenue.
How are smart water meter upgrades funded without raising taxes?
Because old mechanical meters often under-register water flow by 5% to 15%, upgrading them immediately recovers lost utility revenue. Through an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), this guaranteed increase in revenue can fully fund the installation of the new meters and necessary lift station repairs over time, requiring zero upfront taxpayer capital.
What are the signs that a municipal lift station needs rehabilitation?
Key indicators include frequent pump clogging, increased energy consumption without increased load, recurring mechanical or electrical failures, visible corrosion from hydrogen sulfide gas, and inconsistent wet well levels. Upgrading these components prevents dangerous sanitary sewer overflows.
What does a lift station rehabilitation project typically include?
Rehabilitation typically involves replacing outdated pumps with modern, high-efficiency submersible or self-priming pumps, overhauling failing valves, and installing modern control panels with VFDs and SCADA telemetry systems for remote monitoring and alerts.