Smart Tech, Big Savings: How Sandy, Oregon, Transformed Water Management

Managing a municipal water system with a lean team requires more than just hard work; it demands high-quality data. By transitioning from manual meter reading to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) network, utilities can eliminate the guesswork of water loss and capture accurate, on-demand usage data across challenging terrain. This foundational intelligence allows for the creation of District Metered Areas (DMAs), where advanced acoustic monitoring and pressure management work in tandem to pinpoint hidden leaks.

Implementing smart city initiatives—such as installing acoustic sensors in hydrant caps and utilizing automated pressure control valves—does more than just save millions of gallons of water. It streamlines operations by filtering out false alerts, ensuring that field technicians are only dispatched when truly necessary. For smaller communities facing aging infrastructure, these targeted technological investments prove that systematic leak detection and pressure optimization can significantly reduce unbilled water and create a sustainable model for long-term reinvestment.