University Of California Merced Saves Water With BEACON® Software as a Service (SaaS)

BEACON SaaS makes water visible at UC Merced, saving millions of gallons of lost water

Badger Meter, a leading global innovator and manufacturer of flow measurement and control solutions, recently shared impressive water-saving results from its partnership with the University of California Merced (UC Merced). Since implementing the BEACON® Software as a Service (SaaS) managed solution, the university reported over a 23 percent reduction in water consumption, including saving several million gallons from leaks detected by the smart water network’s near real-time data.

Located in the Central Valley, one of the driest regions in California, UC Merced turned to BEACON SaaS beginning in 2011 to meet the campus’ new compliance standards. According to Emron Quarqat, UC Merced Water Operations Crew Leader, what started out as a friendly student competition focusing on reducing water consumption, turned out to be an eye-opening experience for the whole campus.

“BEACON SaaS’s automated data collection and online software has significantly reduced the time and resources needed to ensure and document our new compliance standards,” said Quarqat. “The whole campus has its eyes on water conservation and we now know where our water is going.”

Leveraging BEACON SaaS’s cellular radio endpoints, use of existing cellular networks and easy-to-use software product, UC Merced is equipped with the fast, near-real time data needed to conserve. Combined with accurate meter readings from a variety of Badger Meter flow measurement products – all connected to BEACON SaaS using cellular communications – the campus is able to monitor its reclaimed water, irrigation and wastewater.

In the first year of the water conservation competition, the campus dorms reduced their consumption by 14 percent, saving 79,000 gallons of water. They also saved 1.4 million gallons of water from 16 water leaks detected by the near real-time data. Nine dorms and 565 students participated in the first year of the program. In the years that followed, conservation became a daily habit as students used BEACON SaaS’s real-time monitoring capabilities, including the EyeOnWater smartphone app, to achieve another nine percent reduction, involving over 9,000 students. During the program’s lifetime, BEACON SaaS has quickly detected several leaks, including five toilets leaking a total of 150 gallons per hour – saving the university an estimated one million gallons of water per year.

“For my crew, the number-one concern is keeping an eye on leaks, consumption and the granular measurement data we need to provide to the energy team,” said Quarqat. “BEACON SaaS and the various meters have made it very easy for us to make smart, quick decisions in which the whole campus benefits.”

Since deploying BEACON SaaS, many other universities and colleges throughout California have toured UC Merced, learning from the campus and implementing the system in their own facilities. Meanwhile, UC Merced staff and students are focused on new and innovative ways to keep improving their campus and the state of California.

“We applaud UC Merced for leading the charge and setting an example for other water suppliers in California. At a time when conservation is critical, the university is a prime example of the power of BEACON SaaS to quickly and cost-effectively build a smart water network and empower end-users to be more conscious stewards of their water use,” said Kim Stoll, vice president of sales and marketing for Badger Meter.

Download the complete UC Merced case study.

About Badger Meter
Badger Meter is an innovator in flow measurement and control products, serving water utilities, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers worldwide. The company’s products measure water, oil, chemicals, and other fluids, and are known for accuracy, long-lasting durability and for providing valuable and timely measurement data. For more information, visit www.badgermeter.com.