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As Terlaje home to get first ‘smart’ water meter
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Posted on May 11 2005
Having a water meter installed will promote a sense of responsibility and encourage water conservation, said Jose C. Terlaje, whose home in As Terlaje will be the first to have the device.
“It’s a lesson on being responsible, like when you see water leaking,” said Terlaje, Public Works Operations and Maintenance director. “People don’t care because they pay flat rate.”
Terlaje and his family got an unannounced visit by the Governor’s Water Task Force, Tuesday this week, who informed them that a water meter will be installed at their residence.
Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, task force head, handed him a letter informing him about the water meter, and explained to him the merits of having the device installed, and being billed on a metered rate.
“If it’s for the good of the community, I’ll go for it,” said Terlaje, a father of five.
The task force and Commonwealth Utilities Corp. will try to inform water users regarding the installation of the meters approximately 30 days in advance. This notification means that Terlaje will get his meter installed on or before June 10, 2005.
The next water meters will be installed in Terlaje’s neighborhood and on to Beach Road.
The Northern Marianas College water reservoir, which is right across Terlaje’s residence, is among four points north and south of the island where meter installation will begin.
The other three are the following:
* The reservoir on Isley Field going down to Chalan Piao;
* The Navy Hill reservoir going down to the Maturana Hill, on to the Commonwealth Health Center and Beach Road in Garapan;
* The Puerto Rico reservoir going down to Middle Road and on to Garapan.
Field preparations for the installation of the first batch of 4,000 water meters have started following a Notice to Proceed issued early this month by S.S.F.M. International, the project management firm, to the project contractor.
Crews will survey sites to locate water laterals and put color-coded stakes or flags as markers.
Water consumers are urged not to remove these markers to avoid confusion when actual meter installation begins. (PR)
