META  — Meta Alderman Otto Wankum and City Clerk Deidra Buechter discovered a problem at the pump house that could be key to understanding the city’s long-term water-loss problem.

Buechter explained that Wankum had gone to collect a water sample but called her and asked that she join him at the pump house.

“So, I went up there, and he’s like, listen to this,” she said. “We turned the pump to hand, and we thought it was going to blow out of the ground.”

Wankum added the building and concrete shook with the vibration caused by the pump.

Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) was in town to help repair hydrants. Buechter asked their representative, Jim Patton, to look at the pump.

Patton saw the problem immediately, noting the check valve was stuck. He called Flynn, which inspects the city’s well annually.

Buechter explained that a hole the size of a pencil was found in the casing around the pipe. The hole was located in the seventh section of a 20-foot pipe.

“They put in a new pipe,” said Buechter. “They got it fixed, but I guess that hole in the case probably had something to do with the backflow that showed on the meter and the weird readings.”

Buechter and Chief Water Operator Trevor Plemmons spoke about the check valve. “I don’t have any records of when that check valve was replaced, either in or outside of the well,” she said.

According to MRWA, the valve should be good. However, Plemmons noted that cannot be determined without taking everything apart. “He said it’s just a metal flapper in there that opens and closes, and they get worn out like everything else,” Buechter said.

She added it’s a good idea to see where the State Revolving Fund (SRF) through the USDA comes in and how the new system plays out. “But I think after that ruling, it would be a good idea, if we don’t get any money, to think about at least replacing those check valves to see if we can get the meter to work more accurately. The pump will shut off, the meter will run, and then it’ll run backward a little bit, so we think if we can get that check valve fixed, that might help. Let’s see where the SRF leaves us.”

“Is it possible the meter is completely shot?” City Attorney Nathan Nickolaus asked.

“That’s what I keep saying, but everybody says that’s not it,” said Buechter.

“There’s no way that 45 million gallons moved through that pipe, one way or another,” said Nickolaus, alluding to a master reading that showed 45,943,344 gallons were pumped on Sept. 15.

Alderman Ivie Helton noted the meter isn’t that old.

Buechter confirmed it was replaced in 2016 but had to be recalibrated.

“I have an inkling there is probably something wrong with it, but I don’t know that for sure,” said Buechter.

Wankum asked what it would cost to check it and how long the tower would be out of service.

“Probably a day, I would imagine, or at least a few hours,” Buechter said.

“We could manually fill the tower,” Wankum noted. “For now, that’ll get you through a day, especially a workday, because most people will be at work.”

“Is there a way we could just fill up a 50-gallon barrel and see if it reads 50 gallons and 50 gallons?” Mayor Pro Tem Lawrence Hoffman asked.

“Yeah,” Buechter replied. “I don’t see why not.”

Aldermen took no action on a plan to check the pipe.

WATER/TRASH NEWS

• Meta recorded $6,958.40 in water sales, with $1,231.64 collected for trash service, $140 in late fees, $70 in connection fees, a residential credit of $329.10, and $179.87 collected in sales tax. Total charges were $8,250.81, with a previous balance of $3,281.99, and payments were received in the amount of $8,257.03, leaving a balance due of $3,275.77.

• Clerk Buechter reported that 616,416 gallons of water were pumped during August, with 322,986 gallons sold, 30,000 gallons in leaks, 50,000 gallons flushed, 3,908 gallons used by the fire department, and 204,522 gallons of water lost, or 33.18%.

FINANCIAL NEWS

• In her regular monthly financial report, Treasurer Karla Buechter reported income/deposits of $24,019.35 and debits of $17,647.82 for a balance on hand as of Sept. 30 of $523,784.32; the money market balance was $141,495.03; and certificates of deposit totaling $50,863.20 and 127,651.07, giving the city total funds on hand as of $843,794.62. Checks written last month totaled $12,572.26.

Buechter told aldermen she has concerns about the water fund because it has already overtaken the annual budget. “We probably don’t need to do anything with that because there shouldn’t be any other tests or charges occurring on that until the end of our fiscal year,” she said. “You wouldn’t have to worry about moving any money for now. I think it would be okay to let it ride.”

If the city encounters a need for funding, a decision would be required sooner, Buechter added. When the time comes to amend the budget, she said the maintenance equipment supplies budget has a balance of $25,000.

Buechter said she would advise aldermen of changes.

Remaining business will be presented next week.