Multi-Unit Rental Water Meter Report
UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
TELEPHONE (785) 309-5725
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FAX (785) 309-5713
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Martha Tasker, Director of Utilities
TDD (785) 309-5747
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E-MAIL martha.tasker@salina.org
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300 West Ash · P.O. Box 736
Salina, Kansas 67402-0736
WEBSITE www.salina-ks.gov
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Executive Summary
Multi-Unit Rental
Water Meter Discussion
February 27, 2012
Salina’s water system consists of approximately 20,500 water meters. Currently, Siemens Industry, Inc. is
under contract to replace and retrofit these meters and install an automatic me ter reading system. The
project cost is $14,643,851 and is to be complete by September 2012. In addition, the project includes
relocating approximately 7,900 meters from inside structures to outside locations in the City Right-of-Way (R-
O-W) as approved by the City Commission in 2005. Locating meters to the City R-O-W allows staff access to
the meter 24/7 and eliminates staff intrusion onto private property.
Prior to executing the contract with Siemens Industry, Inc., staff identified multiple meters inside a structure
on a single service line (multi-unit rentals with a sing le service line) as an issu e that would need to be
addressed prior to completion of the water meter replacement project. The total number of addresses with
this situation was unknown and difficult to estimate accurately. Based on the field conditions identified by the
contractor, staff has a better understanding of the sp ecific conditions and total number of addresses that
require modifications to get meters relocated to the City R-O-W.
Staff has identified three options that will meet the goal of moving meters from inside structures to the City
R-O-W as follows:
Option 1 – Single service line and meter for structure with multiple units (Existing Condition)
- Landlord pays the Water Bill
- If meter is inside structure – move to City R-O-W
- If meter is in the City R-O-W – No Change
Option 2 – Single service line and meter for structure with multiple units and meters inside
- Landlord chooses to have a single meter in the City R-O-W
- Landlord pays the Water Bill
- Meter is installed in the City R-O-W
- Existing meters are left in place for the land lord’s use or removed and a pipe spool installed
Option 3 – Multiple service lines and meters in the City R-O-W
- Additional service lines installed as required to provide a separate service line for each rental unit
- Each tenant pays the Water Bill
- Meters are installed in the City R-O-W
The cost for the additional service lines and plumbing work required to separate the plumbing inside the
structure is proposed to be a City at Large Cost. The cost range is $300,000 to $500,000 and would be
funded from the Utilities Department Reserve Fund.The proposed work would be completed in time to
allow Siemens Industry, Inc. to complete their work per the contract completion date of September 2012.
The proposed work would be competitively bid an d construction would be managed by the Utilities
Department.
Chris Koke with Siemens Industry, Inc. will provide a Water Meter Replacement Project status update.
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