SALTILLO, Miss. (WTVA) -- Saltillo Public Works Director Richard Feist has read his share of water meters in his time.
The standard type of meter may be on the way out.
"With the old meters, they are turbine meters, and their internal parts are moving, and after a certain period of time, they will start wearing down, and when those meters wear down, they read inaccurate," Feist said.
Inaccurate readings mean a loss of revenue for the city.
Couple that with what it takes to physically read each meter, and it all adds up.
Conversion to the new meters could save an estimated $56,000 a year according to Feist.
"Whatever we can do to reduce the cost of operations and keep the water bills as low as possible because every time you add more cost, that has to be passed on to the consumer, and so this is one way that we can help keep costs low and still provide even a greater level of service than what we have in the past," Mayor Bill Williams said.
The city is expected to launch a pilot program testing out two models.
One can provide hourly and daily readings as well as notify officials of a leak.
The other would provide a basic reading, and like the smart meter, information could be retrieved by computer.
Saltillo resident Roy Meredith said city officials need to proceed with caution.
"As long as they install it and make sure it works before we start paying for it. If it's not efficient, there's no sense changing the system. If it's not broke, don't fix it," Meredith said.
If the Board of Aldermen eventually approve the changeover, an antenna would be placed on top of the city's water tower. That antenna would transfer the information from the meters to the city's computer.
