FEMA Awards Over $711 Million to PRASA for Potable Water Meters
Summary
It not only protects PRASAs assets and helps it modernize its infrastructure, but it also protects the federal investment, as mitigation works add resiliency against future events, said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator Jos\xe9 G. Baquero.After the devastating effects of Hurricane Mar\xeda on PRASAs water meter infrastructure, replacing and protecting the entire inventory was necessary to ensure its optimum functionality, operation and maintenance, as part of the potable water distribution system.The meters system replacement project includes nearly $580 million in 406 hazard mitigation funding to replace all meters, to avoid the risks associated with partial infrastructure repair. The mitigation measure will help protect PRASAs assets and the federal investment by adding resilience against future similar events. Once again, we are grateful for the support and willingness of all the FEMA, COR3 and PRASA groups that joined us in this process to achieve this historic project for Puerto Rico.Replacing mechanical meters with ultrasonic technology provides multiple benefits for PRASA. Ultrasonic meters do not require a filter, are not affected by water quality or wear and tear over the years and provide accurate readings for the life of the equipment, which is estimated to be 20 years.The AMI advanced metering system complements the new meters by enabling remote reading capabilities and providing real-time water flow information, allowing PRASA to anticipate potential breakdowns and dispatch maintenance crews promptly.Meanwhile, the executive director of the Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), Manuel Laboy Rivera, said that at COR3 we support the development of this permanent work that will benefit all PRASA subscribers. To begin this project, COR3 disbursed $74.3 million through the Working Capital Advance (WCA) pilot program.