The Upper Cumberland Regional Airport is adding more water meters at the north end of the airport because of water leaks.
Airport Director Dean Selby said the north end has 12 hangars connected to one meter. Selby said having that many hangars on one meter has made it challenging to find leaks.
“What will end up happening is there’s a commode leaking, a sink left on, or whatever, and it’s impossible or near impossible for us to narrow it down to where it actually is, whereas if we can meter individual buildings, we know where the leak originates,” Selby said.
Selby said the airport will hand over ownership of the meters to the O’Connor Utility District. Selby said that change will save the airport money in the future.
“It’s becoming more and more difficult to find out where the meters are and as we are expanding that area we don’t want to assume the cost for more and more water usage for additional hangars and it will give us the option to expand that into additional meters as we go forward,” Selby said. “There are two or three buildings, three buildings out there under construction right now, and allowing them to put their own water meter in keeps us from having to observe more of the cost of water and sewer.”
Selby said the airport will install water meters for public and private hangars.
“We are paying for the infrastructure to actually put the meter in, and then they (Private Owners) will have to pay their own bill if it’s a private hangar or if it’s a leased hangar, either way,” Selby said.
Selby said the airport is currently doing an appraisal of the waterline so the O’Connor Utility District can place the meters on its depreciation schedule. Selby said the airport has come to a total of how many meters will be installed, but said an estimate is $1,000 per meter installed.
