Chelan’s proposed water meter upgrade could help residents avoid costly leaks

CHELAN – A water leak can run up a household’s bill long before anyone sees water coming out of the garage. Chelan is proposing a $750,000 meter upgrade that could help catch those leaks sooner by giving the city access to water use readings year-round.

Public Works Director Jake Youngren told the Chelan City Council at its Nov. 3 workshop that the city currently reads meters eight months a year and bills customers using average consumption for the other four. Remote readings would let the city see how much water a home actually uses during those months and spot unusually high use sooner. The earlier a homeowner finds and fixes a leak, the less water they pay for while it’s running.

That could be especially useful in winter, when some Chelan homes sit empty for months. Youngren said water coming out of a garage has sometimes been the first sign of a problem. A spike in water use could give the city an earlier clue, potentially giving an owner time to stop the leak before it causes more damage.

The draft capital plan sets aside $250,000 a year for three years starting in 2027. Youngren said technology now allows the city to retrofit existing meters for remote reading, bringing the cost down from an earlier estimate of more than $3 million for a full meter replacement. The city plans to install the equipment in phases using its own crews.

The upgrade would also give Chelan actual readings for all 12 months of the year. Youngren said the city’s meter reader now spends about two weeks a month collecting readings during the months the city reads meters in person.

Staff are talking with other utilities that have made the switch and are still deciding which technology to use. The workshop did not establish how residents would be notified of a possible leak. Youngren said shutting off water at a meter would still require someone to do it in person.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media