$1.4 million water meter purchase heads to Miramar commission vote. What to know
Miramar city commissioners are set to vote on Wednesday, Jan. 21, on whether to approve the purchase of as much as $1.4 million in water meters and other related equipment as part of the city’s ongoing effort to update its utilities infrastructure.
Miramar has been modernizing its water metering system for years to improve accuracy and reduce water loss.
The proposal, which needs commission approval as do any expenditures over $75,000, would authorize the city to spend the $1.4 million during fiscal year 2026 to purchase water meters and associated components from Sensus USA, which the city uses as its standard water meter provider.
The purchase would be approved through a resolution and includes a waiving of competitive bidding requirements, which means no other company will bid on the project.
City officials say the waiver is justified because the meters are standardized equipment already integrated into Miramar’s existing water system.
According to a written recommendation by City Manager Roy Virgin, the Sensus USA meters are compatible with the city’s current meter-reading technology and data systems. Utilities officials say switching to a different manufacturer could require new equipment, software changes and staff training, potentially increasing costs and disrupting service.
Funding for the purchase is already budgeted in the city’s capital improvement program under furniture, fixtures and equipment and does not require additional revenue, according to the agenda item.
Currently, there are more than 35,000 residential and commercial water meters in service connections in Miramar. It’s unclear how many meters would be purchased by the city. The average cost of a Sensus USA meter is around $400.
City officials say the purchase would allow the utilities department to continue replacing aging meters, supporting new development and maintaining accurate water usage tracking across the city.
Agenda documents also reference a previous purchase from Sensus USA of $74,900 indicating the city has bought meters in smaller batches as part of ongoing maintenance and system upgrades. Since that amount was under $75,000, it did not require commission approval.
The item does not require a public hearing.
This story was originally published January 20, 2026 at 3:19 PM.
