The City of Fairhope is in the process of implementing new water meters and systems across the city.

During its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 13, city council approved an annual contract worth $500,000 with Sensus iPERL for the installation of new water meters, which also includes mobile meter reading devices and software.

The resolution is intended to improve accuracy and give the city the ability to remotely track water usage across Fairhope. During the work session prior the the meeting, Daryl Morefield,water and wastewater superintendent for the City of Fairhope, said the current meters are not as accurate as the ones that are being offered by Sensus iPERL, adding that the new meters will allow workers to track water meters remotely rather than physically having to check current meters at each location across the city.

"Our ultimate goal is to be able to read (the water meters) remotely, rather than driving by (homes)," Morefield said. "It's so we can use cellular antennas to gather data, rather than using a truck and a body to drive around."

According to city leaders, the City of Fairhope has previously had to annually review the number of meters they have and budget for increases in services, especially as residential housing projects are completed, which are then connected to local utilities.