There are many types of water meters being used across the U.S. to measure water consumption. And even though the panacea for a water utility would be to equip each residence with the same meter — standardizing metering technique, data capture and maintenance — the reality is that a utility needs to be able to read and service the variety of meters that make up its metering portfolio.
The history of commercial online transactions is riddled with horror stories about data security breaches. Think Equifax, Target, Yahoo, Uber, Sony PlayStation … the list goes on. How can a utility maximize the benefits advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) offers for more efficient data collection and management, without having to worry about seeing its name on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper?
The Public Works Utilities of Billings, Montana, began their partnership with Neptune Technology back in the 1950s and was an early adopter of Neptune’s ARB® absolute encoder meter reading technology in the 1960s.
The role of a Meter Data Management System (MDMS) is not well defined within the water industry. Many products on the market claim to provide MDM functionality, but few people understand the value of what these systems offer. To understand how this confusion has come about and what can be done to address data management needs in the water industry, we need to first examine the evolution of the MDM within a System for Water Information Management (SWIM).
The City of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, had been using a drive-by Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system to read all of its meters since 2010, but it wasn’t realizing the full benefits with its existing system. A Badger Meter AMR solution was chosen based on its strong track record for increased savings, more accurate measurement, and customer service improvements, supported by sophisticated data analysis and leak detection features. With the new system, the city now sees greater revenue, reduced water loss, and improved efficiency.
Operational efficiency and conservation are increasing in focus among water utilities across the United States, however, they are especially important to Calimesa, Calif.-based South Mesa Water Company.
Not all technology holds up during a weather emergency. Electricity often fails, communication methods are compromised, and computer networks go offline.
These days, advanced meter infrastructure has become the standard for communication between utilities and customers. As seamless as these systems make metering, they present some unique challenges as well. There are often issues with cohesion between manufacturers, environmental hazards, and a litany of technical headaches.
Westwood, California was billing its water using a flat rate system. According to Community Services District General Manager Randy Buchanan, most customers in his service area had no idea how much water they were using, as no services were metered.
Water Online Radio sat down with Silver Springs Networks and Master Meter to discuss the companies’ partnership to incorporate Master Meter’s proven advanced water metering products with Silver Spring’s existing multi-application network, creating a comprehensive solution that allows utilities to easily track and bill their customers through a single reliable, secure network.
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