Site work for a water / sewer project in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Conceptual plans call for site work for a water / sewer project.

The current average lifespan of a meter is around twelve years, and the last meter upgrade occurred in 2006-2008. The current meter model used by the city is no longer in production as of 2018, and it cannot be read by new technology. Upon discovery of this issue, the business office replaced the reading hardware and software and is currently using two antennas to collect consumption data. When meters exceed their useful life, low flow consumption is not captured, and battery life is exceeded, resulting in lost revenue. Upgrading to new meter technology offers several benefits, such as sustaining water and sewer rates by increasing revenue through reading accuracy, improved leak detection, reducing undetected water loss, improving customer service, increasing billing efficiency, and reducing or eliminating abatements. DPS conducted two propagation studies to determine the estimated project cost, and the scope of work is currently being developed for bidding in spring of 2023, contingent on funding. The equipment purchase for the first year is estimated to cost $4.7 million, and installation in the first and second years is expected to cost $2.0 million. The project is include in the city's 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.