Evesham MUA advances 10-year meter replacement program with $835,000 Neptune contract

Evesham MUA advances 10-year meter replacement program with $835,000 Neptune contractThe New Jersey utility is transitioning to a 10-year rotation cycle, swapping out 1,500 meters annually to ensure billing accuracy and leverage cloud-based data tracking.

The board approved a one-year, $835,000 contract with Rio Supply Inc. for Neptune ultrasonic cold-water meters and integrated interface units.

The utility plans to replace approximately 1,500 meters per year to maintain a strict 10-year lifecycle for its metering network.

Testing for the Well 8 replacement project successfully yielded 900 gallons per minute, clearing the way for final installation contracts.

Unmarked utilities on the King's Grant Drive water main project prompted a $100,000 engineering contract for paving, with total restoration costs estimated to exceed $500,000.

The Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority (EMUA) in Marlton, New Jersey, has approved a one-year, $835,000 contract to Rio Supply Inc. for the procurement of Neptune ultrasonic cold-water meters and registers. The resolution, passed during the board's July 1, 2026 meeting, will be executed through the North Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Pricing System. Authority staff noted that the utility intends to implement a full meter change-out program. By replacing approximately 1,500 meters each year, the EMUA aims to establish a strict 10-year rotation cycle across its service area. "Every 10 years they recommend that you got to change them out for the accuracy," a staff representative stated. The authority also utilizes cloud storage services through Rio Supply, a vendor the EMUA has worked with for more than 15 years. Old meters are either returned for warranty credits or broken down to sell the internal brass components as scrap. Alongside the metering upgrades, the authority reported significant progress on its water supply infrastructure. The engineer confirmed that the Well 8 replacement project recently completed a 24-hour test, successfully drawing 900 gallons per minute (gpm). This exceeded the utility's target of 750 gpm and satisfied the state Department of Environmental Protection's requirement to test at 20% above the target capacity. With the well's capacity confirmed, the MUA will now proceed with the next contract phase to finalize the installation. Meanwhile, the authority is navigating costly complications on its King's Grant Drive water main replacement project. Unmarked utilities—including a gas main and a Verizon line buried directly in the asphalt—forced contractors to alter the pipeline's route and cross the road. To address the necessary road restoration, the board approved a $100,000 engineering services contract with Alignable Group. The engineer noted that the final paving construction costs for the road could exceed half a million dollars, driven by municipal ordinances requiring curb-to-curb repaving when utilities are replaced.