DRINKING WATER DISTRIBUTION RESOURCES
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The journey from manual water-meter reads to a fully integrated digital ecosystem is long and complex. To help utilities along, the Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN) released the global Smart Metering Playbook, which includes both implementation best practices and common pitfalls. Here are five common advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) rollout mistakes from the Playbook, along with examples of how to overcome them.
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Optimize service line inventories by utilizing a tiered verification approach. This strategy balances low-cost customer engagement and predictive modeling with targeted excavations to ensure regulatory compliance, reduce operational expenses, and minimize community disruption.
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Discover how El Paso Water partnered with 120Water to reduce their unknown service lines by 90% and save more than $150K in avoided field work costs. A hybrid verification approach can often reduce the number of digs a system needs to do.
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Critical water tunnels require efficient structural renewal to meet strict shutdown schedules. Certified geopolymer mortar provides a cost-effective, high-strength solution that eliminates groundwater infiltration and improves water quality while ensuring a 70-year service life for essential aqueduct systems.
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Small utilities can overcome limited staffing and aging infrastructure by integrating smart metering with acoustic leak detection. These data-driven tools pinpoint hidden water loss and optimize system pressure, ensuring reliable service and significant cost savings.
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Protecting residential water access during emergency repairs is essential for municipal reliability. Advanced insertion technology creates permanent control points on live, pressurized lines, preventing large-scale service outages and boil-water advisories for thousands of residents.
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Critical safety systems must remain operational during repairs. Advanced insertion technology enables the installation of permanent valves on pressurized lines without service interruptions, preventing costly facility shutdowns while ensuring constant fire suppression readiness.
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Mechanical point repair offers a cost-effective, efficient alternative to traditional lining for fixing pipe defects. These thin-profile stainless-steel sleeves restore structural integrity and seal leaks quickly, significantly reducing project costs while maintaining optimal flow.
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Maintaining water service during infrastructure upgrades is critical for community safety. Innovative insertion technology allows for the creation of permanent isolation points on live pressurized lines, ensuring uninterrupted supply while enhancing long-term grid reliability.
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Smart water technologies improve customer satisfaction through accurate billing, leak detection, and data-driven insights, helping utilities build trust, reduce losses, and enhance operational efficiency.