Utilities both in Australia and around the world are grappling with water security challenges, but innovative smart meter technology could hold the key to reducing water loss.
Australia is one of the driest continents on earth, and it’s also one of the highest consumers of water, with the average Australian using between 160L and 180L each day.
To help address water scarcity, many states around the country are setting conservation goals. Melbourne, for example, has implemented a water efficiency program to encourage residents to limit water consumption to 150L per person, per day.
Similarly, on the other side of the world, European water utilities like Abbanoa S.p.A. in Sardinia, Italy, are also facing significant challenges related to water loss. In Sardinia, 53 per cent of water losses are caused by leaks, which is nearly twice the global average of around 30 per cent of water lost to leaks in the distribution system.
To improve conservation and reduce water loss, water utilities are looking for innovative smart metering solutions – and Abbanoa turned to Intelis wSource to provide detailed, accurate data in even the harshest conditions. In Europe and Australia, alike, meters must perform and maintain accuracy in hot, dry summers.
To address these and other extreme conditions, the Intelis wSource meter is manufactured with brass hydraulics and a robust, reinforced casing that can withstand high temperatures and provide highly accurate data over years of operation.
Keeping customers happy
Another important goal for water utilities across the globe is customer satisfaction. Abbanoa selected the Intelis wSource water meter to help improve the customer experience and meet conservation goals with timely leak notifications and consumption information. Informed customers are more aware of their usage and can change their behavior to use less water.
In addition, the Intelis wSource is the most accurate meter on the market, ensuring customers are billed correctly and leading to high customer satisfaction and revenue protection.
The Intelis wSource meter is helping Abbanoa increase revenue by five per cent, and has helped the utility lower operating costs and better manage its distribution system – and could help Australian water utilities achieve the same goals.
Learn more by reading the Abbanoa case study.
Featured image: Taras Vyshnya/shutterstock.com
