Neenah hydrant meters help contractors reduce truck traffic to and from city water plant

Duke Behnke, Appleton Post-Crescent
·2 min read

Reader question: There’s some type of meter attached to a fire hydrant at the corner of Sherry and Lake streets in Neenah. What’s that for? Can a resident hook up to the hydrant to fill a swimming pool?

Answer: No, residential customers cannot hook up to hydrant meters to fill their swimming pools.

Hydrant meters are rented to local contractors who need water to wash their equipment, to keep the dust down during street construction or to drill underground utility lines.

The meters measure the volume of water used, so the contractor can be billed properly, and they prevent backflow to ensure no contaminants get into the water distribution system.

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The Neenah water treatment plant at 234 S. Park Ave. has two filling stations for contractors in need of water, and they are used, particularly if the contractors are working on the east side of the city.

A hydrant meter at the intersection of Lake and Sherry streets in Neenah allows contractors in need of water to avoid frequent trips to the filling stations at the Neenah water plant.
A hydrant meter at the intersection of Lake and Sherry streets in Neenah allows contractors in need of water to avoid frequent trips to the filling stations at the Neenah water plant.

When contractors have jobs farther away, the hydrant meters offer an efficient alternative to driving tank trucks back and forth between the water plant and the job site. That saves time and fuel and reduces truck traffic and wear and tear on the streets.

Filling from a hydrant also improves the flow of water through the distribution system, increasing the freshness of the water for customers in the area. In addition, it frees up utility staff that otherwise must be present when contractors use the filling stations at the water plant.

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Water Utility Director Tony Mach said Neenah has four meters available for rent. He would like to add more.

"Our staff members made those up," Mach said. "It's all part of efficiency for ourselves and for the contractors."

A hydrant meter remains in place as long as the contractor needs water.

"It could be the whole construction season," Mach said, "and if they need us to move it, we can move it."

Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Neenah hydrant meters promote efficient sale of water to contractors