Lewiston needs $30K for water telemetry system

By Erik Bateman

March 24, 2004 | LEWISTON -- The city water telemetry computer system is down and needs to be fixed or replaced. At a cost of $30,000, money for the new computer system is scarce.

Plans to fix the city's office-based system have been considered but cost estimates are comparable to replacing the system. The lowest repair bid quote was $20,000. The original telemetry system was installed in 1990 at a cost of $20,000. Compared to the $30,000 pricetag of a new system, there is no question as to what the city should do.

"We are talking about 20 thousand 1990 dollars. It really costs about the same today with the way inflation works. If we wait it will cost $40,000 in 10 more years. It is worth paying the money," said Kelly Field, Lewiston's public works committee chairman.

Since the failure of the system Lewiston has had to use more man hours to control the water flow in the irrigation system. Field also said that the amount of salary needed to pay people to regulate the irrigation system costs more in one year than a new computer system. Field also thinks the city council should budget money to replace or update the water telemetry system every 10 to 12 years.

Lewiston did experience a positive cash flow last year in regards to irrigation water. Costs to maintain the irrigation system normally run around $200,000 to $225,000 a year. Lewiston took in $268,000 last year in irrigation water money. The problem is that the extra money has been distributed to cover other city needs and little is left to purchase a new water telemetry system.

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