Upgrades to the electric controls and telemetry for Newton’s Water Treatment and Distribution System are nearly finished. City Administrator Matt Muckler says controls and telemetry systems that are no longer supported by their manufacturers are being replaced by Jetco Incorporated in Altoona. He says several of the improvements were recommendations from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the upgraded equipment is essential for maintaining automated control and monitoring across the entire water system and will provide greater accuracy and responsiveness.

At Newton’s Water Treatment plant, city staff says key upgrades include main control panel replacement,
upgrades to the motor control center, installation of new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition hardware and software, and enhanced remote access capabilities for system monitoring and management. Control panel upgrades and new telemetry systems or upgrades are being put in at the city’s pump stations, wells, and telemetry sites. The cost of the upgrades will total $288,000.