The crew from Zenner USA of Banning, Calif., is wrapping up billing cycle 4 installation of the automated water meter reading system and will begin work for billing cycle 1 later this week, Great Bend Public Works Director Jason Cauley said. The additional cycles will follow as the project progresses (see related graphic). 

“We thank you for your patience as we work to make improvements,” Cauley said. 

With this system, water use for the city’s roughly 6,500 users is beamed directly to the Water Office at the Front Door Facility. Usage can be read and tracked in real time.

The cost of the system and related infrastructure came in at about $2.4 million, plus some annual maintenance expenses. The city applied for and received a loan through the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund to cover the expense.

This is seen as a way to improve accuracy in tracking consumer water use and save the city money.  By alleviating the city’s long-running water meter reading woes, it is expected to pay for itself in five to 10 years.

For questions or concerns, contact Cauley at 620-793-4150 or jcauley@greatbendks.net.