The installation of some 8,300 new radio-operated water meters is still on track to be completed by the end of the year.

Selma Mayor George Evans said workers recently completed the installation of new meters in the first of three zones across the city.

“We’ve had two meetings with everyone involved in the project to go over some small issues there were with the project at its start,” Evans said. “We got all the players together to make sure everything was in place, so the project can go smoothly.”

Evans said contractors for Selma Water Works and Sewer Board have installed more than 2,300 meters since the project began in early April.

The new meters will allow SWWSB employees to read the meters without getting out of their car, and will also send a warning if a leak has been detected in the system.

The first zone of the project includes properties west of Broad Street and south of JL Chestnut Boulevard.

Since completing work in zone one, Evans said workers have turned their attention to replacing meters in the area north of JL Chestnut and east of Broad Street, before moving to the area south of that.

Evans said he has met with Water Works representatives and the meter suppliers to ensure the installation of the new meters goes smoothly.

“We had some problems downtown, but that will all be taken care of,” Evans said. “It ought to move very swiftly now because we’ve improved the whole process. We are working together as a team to get everything done while interrupting everyone’s water service as little as possible.”

Evans said complaints about the project have included messes being left behind by the installation crews, meter lids not being left flush with the ground, and customers not having enough warning their water service would be cut while the new meters are installed.

“We’ve done a lot to improve on those early concerns,” Evans said. “Any messes left behind — broken bricks and bit of concrete — will be cleaned up, and everyone in zones two and three will have plenty of warning before their water is shut of temporarily.”

Thursday, Evans estimated the work would be complete by the end of November.

The project will be paid for through a $2.56 million loan from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

Since half of the loan will function like a grant, the water board won’t have to pay back about $1.28 million.