From: Virginia and Chris Anderegg
To: Mary Gourley
Subject: In support of automated water meter program
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2022 4:29:36 PM
To Sebastopol City Council:
The City of Sebastopol is fortunate to be able to have found the funding to change out the old water meters and automate the overall system. We are writing to you in support of this project.
Utility industry experience shows that old water meters most often fail to measure all water usage, as they age they under-register. In addition, automating the reading process will save money and staff time that could well be used for other projects while also allowing the City and the customers access to valuable real-time water consumption data. Users who decide to download the usage app will be able to monitor their usage and immediately spot leaks.
This new system will save our water resource primarily by reducing or eliminating waste - a step that is hard to argue with.
Our hope for a normal rain year appears to have evaporated and now we know the drought will continue. Water conservation is going to become more and more crucial and getting all of us focused on this day by day is essential. (A five year study in Sydney, Australia showed that automated water meters did help reduce water consumption.) We fully support this project and ask that Council bring this technology to all of Sebastopol. While you might consider the opt-out scenario, please do this knowing that this group of people will also not be able to detect leakage and realize the efficiency that is possible with the automatic meter reading system.
Sincerely,
Chris and Virginia Anderegg