Neptune Offers Drought-Hit Utilities Two-Pronged Approach For Water Efficiency

In the midst of a historic drought, Neptune Technology Group continues to provide its water utility customers with systems that boost water efficiency – not only on the demand side but on the supply side as well.

This two-pronged approach is proving especially helpful to utilities in the western U.S. For instance, as the State of California has put into effect more stringent restrictions on water usage, Neptune’s automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems provide a robust set of tools to improve water efficiency.

By leveraging Neptune’s point-of-use leak detection and data logging capabilities, utilities can detect leaks at residences or identify excessive water usage with 96 days of historical consumption data from the meter. The utilities can show these users how much water they used, and when, helping to enforce water restrictions while encouraging changes in consumption behavior. Individual customers can even monitor their own consumption through a web portal in Neptune’s N_SIGHT IQ intelligent data and analytics.

Likewise, by tracking water on the supply, or distribution side, those same water utilities can conserve water in another way. In communities that cannot rely on usual water resources such as rainfall or snowmelt, it is crucial to identify an additional source of water scarcity – Non-Revenue Water (water loss). Using Neptune’s N_SIGHT PLUS host software, utilities can group similar accounts for District Metered Area analysis and balance water produced against water consumed down to the neighborhood level – all to help track and manage Non-Revenue Water. This form of water conservation is actually the most cost-effective method of finding “new” water for utilities.

“While it’s necessary to address leaks and excessive usage on the customer side, it isn’t enough,” said Neptune President Chuck DiLaura. “To achieve water efficiency, a utility must also address the distribution side of the equation, to look at both sides to prevent water loss.”

While innovative, the types of advanced, data-driven AMR/AMI tools available to today’s utilities were developed before the current drought in the West. By focusing on a long-term, multi-discipline approach, Neptune offers water utilities smart ways to address water scarcity.

About Neptune
Neptune Technology Group Inc. is a pioneer in the development of automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technologies for five decades. Since 1892 Neptune has continually focused on the evolving needs of utilities – revenue optimization, operational efficiencies, and improved customer service. The company offers a fully integrated migration path for its utility customers to meet their needs now and in the future. For more information, visit www.neptunetg.com.