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Bellefonte Gazette January 8 2005, pages 1, 3
Bellefonte Water Authority Meeting
By Vana Dainty
"Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - The Council Room was standing room only for the informative meeting on the water meter installation. Walter Peterson, Authority Chairman, called the meeting to order. The Authority went right to the informative part of the meeting.
You will see that this article is done in a question and answer format. I do not use 'quotes because I am not quoting any one person. Many of the people asked the same questions. The answers also are not quotes because some of the answers are combined with more than one person speaking.
I sent this to Ralph Stewart, the Bellefonte Borough Manager, to look over to make sure I had all of the facts straight. This way you are getting the most accurate information possible.
Todd Duff, the meter installer, was introduced and he began by explaining the installation process. Approximately one week before the meter is to be installed you will receive a letter from the installer telling the date and the approximate time your water meter will be installed. At the time you receive the letter, there will be phone numbers you can call to reschedule if the date and time does not work for you.
They will need to be able to access the inside of your house. The meter is installed inside. They will inspect the plumbing before they begin. If it is fit to withstand the meter it will be installed. If your plumbing is not fit to have the meter installed, they will give you time to do the repairs that need to be done.
Every single family residence will have its own separate line and meter. They will cut out a piece of your pipe near where the water comes into your home. They will install the meter, a standard new ball valve and a backflow preventor. The backflow is to stop water from your system flowing back into the main public water system.
It is recommended that customers install a thermal expansion tank on the inside of the home. The tank will take the overflow pressure from the lines. The cost of an expansion tank is about $55.00 for a small one and Triangle Building Supply will have them or be able to order them.
After Todd's explanation there were many questions from the people attending the meeting.
Question: How much is it going to cost us to have these meters installed; The answer was that the cost of the meter and the installation was free to the homeowner. The Water Authority had borrowed approximately 2 million dollars to cover the cost of the project. The Water Authority looked at bonds, Penn Vest and ended up getting the best rate from a local bank, Jersey Shore State Bank. They have a fixed rate of 4.15% for 11 years with the first year being interest only payments. The loan can be prepaid in advance with no penalties.
The way the loan will be paid back is through an increase in the amount you are paying for water.
The increase is an additional $6.00, per month which will be a total of $18. per quarter. The increase became effective January 1, 2005.
Next Question: What will the home owner be responsible for? The Borough will take care of the waterline from the main line to the curb stop located at the property line; from the stop to the meter is the responsibility of the home owner. The home owner will have responsibility of the inside of the house also if any work needs to be done.
Next Question: Was not the Water Authority responsible from the main line to the point of entry to the residence in the past? The answer was that it has never been that way.
Next Question: What if you have a water line in your plumbing located before the spot where the water meter is to be placed? The installer would install the meter and the homeowner would then be given notice to have any feed lines relocated to a point after the meter.
Next Question: What if there is no curb stop and, no shut off from the main line? The installers will attempt to freeze the pipe where it comes into the home and put the meter in. If the pipe is in bad shape and will not tolerate freezing, they will schedule a time to install a shut off at the curb at the expense of the Authority.
Next Question: 'When all the meters are installed, will we be charged by the usage of water? Yes, a system will be worked out that people will be charged by the amount of water they use., After a majority of the meters are in and an average daily use can be determined, a metered rate will be established.
Next Question: How will the meters be read? This will be done electronically. The meter will have a transmitter that will be placed near the meter and it will be read from the road. The meter and transmitter will have identification numbers. When the signal comes back to the reader it will identify the number and will mark it as your meter. The transmitter will run off a battery. The life of the battery is 20 years.
Next Question: How will Multi-Family Dwellings be handled? There will be a meter for each separate connection coming into the property from the main line.
Next Question: Can the meters be read both analog and digitally? Yes, you will be able to read your meter daily yourself, if you so choose.
Next Question: I travel and I need more than a week's notice in order to change my schedule if necessary, to be there for the installation. How will that work? if you call the borough office and let them know, they will do their best to work within your schedule. The installer is starting at the outer edges of the area (newer neighborhoods) and working their way into the oldest neighborhoods.
Next Question: Does that mean Coleville will be at the beginning? No, where we think there may be some servicing problems we are waiting for warmer weather.
Next Question: What about the charter that says you can not charge for the water? Actually you are not being charged for the water. You are being charged for the cost of getting the water to you. The water system currently has an annual budget of $1.3 million. Throughout the county the customers on a water system pay for the costs of operation of that water system through flat or metered rates or a combination thereof. It is reasonable to charge a customer who uses more water, more than another customer who doesn't, because there is a cost associated for every gallon of water produced and piped to that customer. While Bellefonte Borough may own the Big Spring, the State controls how much water can be taken out of the spring.
Next Question: What happens if you need repairs before the meter can be installed? We will work with you. If it is going to take 2-4 weeks, just let the borough know. If a customer is unsure as to what to do next, call the, borough office at 355-1501 ext. 13 or 14, and they will help you through the process.
Next Question: Why are the meters not being placed in the easement that everyone has in their yard? The cost of placing the meter outside would double what it costs to place it inside. You have to dig a meter pit and then install it. Even with that it could freeze. In warmer climates it is more feasible to have the meters outside than it is here.
Next Question: I like to have things done in an orderly fashion. Wouldn't it make sense for me to contact a plumber in advance and see what needs to be done and have it fixed? At this point many people applauded. Yes that would make very good sense.
Next Question: How do we know who these people are; those installing the meters? They will have a Borough ID card on. If anything out of the ordinary takes place you should call the Borough immediately. The Water Authority did a thorough background check on Todd Duffey and his company when they went through the selection process. L/B Water of Selinsgrove is the general contractor. The borough has done business with L/B Water for over thirty years. After the meter is installed, a borough employee will inspect the work and seal the meter.
Next Question: Will they need to come into our home again in 3 or 6 months to check the calibration of the meter? No, the meters are guaranteed to be accurate with an 1 1/2% margin for error for the first 5 years. After that time there can be some build up of calcium which would slow the meter down. Therefore saving you money.
Next Question: How long will it take to install the meters? It will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to install -the meter in each home.
Next Question: After this is done and everything is running smoothly, what, are the chances that the system will be sold to a private company? The Borough is very possessive. We just can not see that happening.
Next Question: Will the Authority be installing main meters? Yes, this will help us determine if there are leaks. If the usage from residents is less than what the main meters show, that will mean there is a leak in that area. Their meter reading computer program is designed to look for high and low readings. If, for some reason, your usage is suddenly higher it will send up a red flag and you will be notified. It could be something as simple as a faucet drip. It is amazing the amount of water that can be lost from a small drip.
Metering all customers on the system will allow the Water Authority to see where and how the water is being used. Bellefonte has a water allocation permit of 5 million gallons a day -- that is how much water they are allowed to take oat of the Big Spring on a daily basis. This amount was determined by the amount of commercial and residential customers being supplied by the system. We have been using four times the average amount of water per household compared to the rest of the state. The Authority will be able to determine how much water is being lost to leaks and then maybe qualify for grants to fix the leaks. They hope the project will be done in 4 to 6 months.
Many of the people who attended the meeting could not fit in the room and were unable to hear much of what was taking place. They asked if another meeting could be scheduled. The Water Authority agreed to hold another meeting. This brought the informative part of the meeting to an end. Everyone was invited to stay for the remainder of the meeting. Everyone left at that time.
During the regular business meeting the Authority approved its budget for next year and approved two requisitions for payment. They discussed when to have the next meeting for the general public and agreed to hold it on February 1, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Borough Council Room. If more space is needed, the meeting will be reconvened at the Bellefonte Elementary School Auditorium. Customers do not have to wait for this meeting to have questions answered. They are highly encouraged to contact the borough office at 355-1501 ext. 13 or 14, by email at boro@bellefonte.net; or by mail at Bellefonte Borough Authority 236 West Lamb Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823."
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