Australian Water Utility Seeks Technology Partners

Victorian-based water utility South East Water is seeking expressions of interest for the development of a telecommunications network to enable communication with and management of all digital field devices.

The forward-thinking utility is investigating the possibility of applying a digital metering solution including end points, telecommunication networks and information systems for its 825,000 residential and commercial customers.

South East Water Chief Information Officer Peter O’Donoghue said the introduction of this emerging technology is key to delivering an innovative change for industry, advances in customer service and operational efficiencies to deliver potential cost savings for customers.

“The digital metering trials conducted to date have given our customers insight into how they can best manage their water use and have allowed South East Water to gain a greater understanding of how our water networks operate,” said Mr O’Donoghue.

“Greater application of this technology will provide significant benefits for our customers and stakeholders through reduced operational costs and a reduction of water lost through customer leakage and also the larger water network.”

Further invitations for expressions of interest will be released for the supply of digital devices including digital water meters and the supply and integration of meter data management solutions.

South East Water began their digital water meter trials in 2013 with 29 properties in a single suburb. With numerous examples of early leak detection and resolution, South East Water expanded the trials to include three additional suburbs within their service region in the south east of Melbourne.

Expressions of interest documentation can be found at australiantenders.com and close at 2.00 pm 14 May 2014, Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

About South East Water
South East Water provides water, sewerage and recycled water services to more than 1.6 million people across 3,640 square kilometres and is responsible for $3.4B of assets. Over 23,000 kilometres of pipeline deliver these supplies with the support of 80 water pump stations and 255 sewage pump stations.