HOLT, Fla., June 4, 2025—Holt Water Works is updating its water system.

As of Friday, contracting crews with Meter Install Group began replacing older, and in some cases, antiquated, manual-read water meters throughout the system with high-tech radio-read meters.

The project will convert all meters to the upgraded technology, saving the utility time and money.

The new meters will be able to provide real-time water consumption and provide more precise calculations on water losses throughout the system for customers with questions about water usage.

Reading water meters manually each month for billing purposes took around 36 manhours. With radio-read meters installed, meters throughout the system can be read in an hour just by driving by them.

As the truck drives past, the information immediately goes into a computer program. This not only saves data entry errors, but it also saves wear and tear on the utility truck by eliminating nearly 1,000 stops and starts during manual meter reading each month.

“We don’t have to go out to see if the meter is spinning,” said maintenance supervisor Patrick Broxson. It also cuts down on battling reptiles and bugs hidden in water meter boxes.

“No more snakes, spiders, black widows and beehives,” he said.

Broxson and Daniel Quattlebaum, assistant maintenance supervisor, will mark all meter locations with blue flags to help contract crews readily identify replacement locations.

During meter replacement, water will be shut off at each location while the meter is replaced. This process takes anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, minimizing customer inconvenience.

Meter replacement crews will work Monday through Friday beginning at 8 a.m. with an option to work on Saturday if needed.

Antiquated meters

Although some water meters in the Holt system have been replaced throughout the years, many of Holt’s water meters still in use were installed in the 1960s when the water utility came online.

According to Holt Water Works manager Donna Ash, meters wear out over time and begin to slow down. This works in favor of the customer because monthly meter readings can be lower with the older meters. However, it costs Holt Water money when customers receive water without charge.

As a result of the new, more accurate meters, customers may see a change in their water bills.

The new meter replacement project is the largest overall upgrade to the system since the construction of the 300,000-gallon main water tank/tower in the industrial park in 2005.

In March, Holt Water Works received a $4 million grant from the state of Florida to construct a new tank/tower/pump on Galliver Cut Off. A timeline for the project has not yet been established.

Total cost for the meter upgrade project is $318,613. The project is funded in part by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

The project is scheduled to be complete within 90 days.