The Challenge
Eden Prairie needed to replace the aging water meters throughout their system. They knew a water meter project was necessary, as the lifecycle of their existing meters had outlasted expectations. But that meant timely replacements were critical.
Water meter replacement wasn’t the only task at hand. The team at Eden Prairie needed to compile essential information about the piping systems in their community. “One of the key things was to find out what type of service pipe is within the home,” said Rick Whalen, Utilities Operations Manager at Eden Prairie. Especially when considering the upcoming revision of the lead and copper rule, a clear picture of the community’s system was essential. “We thought it’d just make good sense to get ahead of it and put hands on that service pipe to find out what it’s made of.”
Beyond a better understanding the pipes that comprised their system, Eden Prairie wanted to know whether homes had a softening device, where private wells were located, and about the presence of any cross-connections that could present a risk to families or the system.
“The project had it’s challenges, but by teaming with HydroCorp while utilizing existing city resources, the compliance deadline was achieved on time.” – Rick Whalen, Utilities Operations Manager, Eden Prairie
The Solution
With so much to tackle in each residential visit, Eden Prairie sought a true partner with the expertise to address all their needs. “It made sense to us to make each one of those visits a one-stop shop,” Whalen said.
Because their contractor would be entering residents’ homes, excellent customer service was a priority. “When we were choosing contractors to work with, we wanted to make sure that ethic was as well regarded by our contractor as it was us.” That’s what drew them to HydroCorp, Whalen explained. With HydroCorp, Eden Prairie found a team of experts who prioritized customer service to ensure the city maintained positive relationships with residents.
Not only did HydroCorp successfully install 18,000 water meters across the Eden Prairie community, but contractors also surveyed for cross-connections and created a database of backflow prevention and other recommended corrective actions where hazards were identified.
The Result
Now, Eden Prairie has better visibility into their public water system than ever before. “Gathering all of this data in one fell swoop has really earned us dividends,” Whalen explained. “We now know far more about our homes, about our customers, and about how we can better serve them.”
HydroCorp’s expertise, professionalism, and flexibility made the project a success. “They were just as adaptable as my staff in recognizing that [something] could be improved,” Whalen said. “HydroCorp was very much a part of our staff.”
Their water customers were satisfied, too, Whalen emphasized. “I could count on less than one hand the number of calls we received about any concerns about customer service. Statistically, we couldn’t have picked a better partner for this.”
“We now know far more about our homes, about our customers, and about how we can better serve them.” – Rick Whalen, Utilities Operations Manager, Eden Prairie
With a completed meter replacement project and new, detailed insights into the state of the city’s water system and any potential or actual cross-connections, Eden Prairie is better equipped to manage and protect the city’s water.
