Lebanon Utilities approves system-wide telemetry overhaul for wastewater lift stations

Lebanon Utilities approves system-wide telemetry overhaul for wastewater lift stationsThe Indiana utility will replace its existing network across all lift stations with a new $67,158 dual-SIM system to resolve persistent cellular dropouts and secure real-time operational data.

The board approved a $67,158.75 contract with BBC Pump and Equipment to upgrade telemetry across the utility's wastewater lift stations.

Staff reported the legacy OmniSite system suffered from cellular connection losses lasting up to five days, threatening emergency response capabilities.

The new system features dual SIM cards for network redundancy and provides live data, replacing the previous 15-minute data increments.

Utility staff expect delivery in three to six weeks and will handle installation at the majority of the sites.

Lebanon Utilities will overhaul the telemetry systems across its wastewater lift stations to resolve persistent connectivity issues that have hindered emergency monitoring. During a March 18, 2026 meeting, the utility's Service Board unanimously approved a $67,158.75 purchase from BBC Pump and Equipment to replace its existing OmniSite hardware. Wastewater collections operator Corey Roland told the board that the current system had experienced a degradation in hardware quality and customer service, including prolonged losses of cellular connection. Roland noted that in one instance, a station's monitoring system went offline for five days, creating a risk that staff would not be notified of critical emergencies such as high wet well levels or power failures. The legacy OmniSite software was also limited to providing data in 15-minute increments. The new BBC Pump and Equipment system will deliver live data and utilize dual SIM cards, allowing the hardware to automatically switch between AT&T and Verizon towers if a signal is lost. Delivery of the new hardware is expected in three to six weeks. Utility staff will handle the installation for the majority of the lift stations immediately upon arrival. Three sites—Northside, Reese Park, and Shaker Square—will be excluded from staff installation due to existing programmable logic controllers (PLCs) or planned remote control system upgrades. In other water utility business, the board approved the $43,651 purchase of a 2026 Ford F-150 from D. Patrick Ford. The vehicle will be used by the water treatment plant for field testing and transporting bacteria samples. Additionally, the board heard public comments regarding the regional LEAP project, with a resident proposing alternative wastewater discharge locations to avoid routing an estimated 76,000 pounds of phosphorus per year into the Eagle Creek Reservoir. No action was taken on the public comments.