According to the U.S. EPA, $97 billion will be needed over the next two decades to control water loss, comprising 29 percent of the needed upgrade costs in the space overall. The agency estimates that average water loss for a system is 16 percent, with 75 percent of that being recoverable.
Accurate and dependable water metering is more important than ever for today’s water utilities. Although utility managers are tasked with meeting tight budgets, it is imperative for utilities to invest in their water metering infrastructure. When making meter selection decisions, utilities must consider several factors. These include service size, application, and expected flow rates. There is no “one type fits all” application when it comes to meter technologies.
Water conservation has long been a hot topic between water utilities and their end users for a variety of reasons — seasonal water scarcity, overextended treatment facilities, periodic maintenance disruptions, etc. But when it comes to managing data that can help control water losses and recover billings for non-revenue water (NRW), why is it so hard to practice what we preach? This article dispels some of the common myths related to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technology that can help cut treated water losses and generate previously overlooked revenue.
The 37 million gallon per day William B. Cater Water Treatment plant serves City of Santa Barbara with the majority of its drinking water while also supplying treated water to the districts of Montecito Water, Carpinteria Valley Water, Goleta Water, and La Cumbre Water.
Choosing the right communication network is crucial to building a successful, smart utility. The quality of the communication technology selected determines whether the data will be transmitted efficiently, securely, and reliably over the long haul. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly.
Water storage tanks and reservoirs are a critical component of distribution systems, yet they can pose a significant challenge for water utilities as they often have a negative impact on water quality. Water quality problems can develop due to low turnover and/or inadequate mixing resulting in short-circuiting. While the benefits of maximizing tank turnover to minimize water age are generally understood, it is only recently that extensive research on mixing characteristics of storage tanks has been undertaken that has provided insight on what causes water quality problems and expertise in designing inlet/outlet pipe configurations, or mixing systems, to achieve complete mixing and maintain water quality.
In the Spring of 2018, Matchpoint was contracted by the City of Arlington to provide UAV-Based Leak Detection after onsite leaks proved to be evasive and difficult to locate using traditional leak detection methods. At that point, Arlington enlisted Matchpoint’s UAV services to locate the leak in a less traditional, but innovative new way — using the UAV to analyze RGB and thermal imagery.
Matchpoint was hired to conduct one day of leak detection services for the Port of Morehead City. The objective of the survey was to find a 1 to 2 gallon per minute leak that the Port highlighted as a concern on over 3,500 feet of pipe.
For the past 150 years, Sensus has brought water metrology products to market that have led the industry in technology, efficiency and accuracy. Today is no different as environmental regulations and sustainable technologies are key concerns for water utilities.
It’s no secret that municipalities across the country are facing budget constraints.
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