Fort Smith Board to review consent decree compliance, water meter plan

The Fort Smith Board of Directors has asked city staff to better communicate sewer system work to address improvements mandated by a federal consent decree. Part of that communication will begin Tuesday (June 23) at the board’s study session.

The board also is set to hear a presentation about “advanced metering infrastructure” that could help the city reduce an estimated 35% “non revenue water loss” from billing errors and other factors.

After decades of failing to maintain the sewer system, officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a consent decree in 2014 with the City of Fort Smith that required certain improvements to the city’s sewer system. While estimates vary, the consensus estimate is that the total cost could approach $800 million.

Fort Smith voters on May 13 approved a sales tax repackaging that will generate an estimated $360 million in revenue to more fully meet work mandated by the consent decree.

“An overall status report including some infographics will be used to show the progress towards completing the Consent Decree that will include the overall construction completed, under contract, designed and ready to be bid, and what is left for design and construction,” Fort Smith Director of Water Utilities Lance McAvoy noted in a memo to Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman. “Water Utilities will also provide an update on the work underway in 2025 to work towards the compliance and continued modification of the Consent Decree.”

According to McAvoy, the presentation also will include consent decree “milestones achieved” in 2024, status update on work completed, and a “brief overview” of what the city is required to do to be in compliance with the consent decree.

WATER METERS
The Fort Smith utilities department has sought bids for an “Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) System,” with three proposals submitted, according to McAvoy. The project also includes a “Water Loss Optimization” and “Energy Savings Performance Contract” plan.

The bids are part of an effort, according to McAvoy, to determine the sources of the loss of revenue in the city’s water system, and to consider funding sources that “minimize the impact” on water system customers. Framingham, Mass.-based AMERESCO was selected from the three proposals to contract with the city on the project.

“Currently Fort Smith estimates the nonrevenue water loss of around 35%. The project will look at both loss from inaccurate meters, billing inaccuracies, and other related nonrevenue water loss factors,” McAvoy noted. “These findings will be used to determine the next steps forward such as billing corrections, meter replacement and implementation of AMI.”

The Fort Smith Board is expected at a future regular voting meeting to consider moving forward with hiring AMERESCO to develop ideas to improve water billing, reduce water loss, and reduce energy usage.

“The entire project is to select the best value equipment & technology, determine revenue loss from inaccurate meters and billing, create a citizen engagement strategy, and provide a turn-key firm fixed project price with true return on investment (ROI),” McAvoy noted.