With smart cities on the rise, the utility management market is evolving rapidly with practices such as smart metering and data capture at the forefront of sustainable urban development. Smart meters are commonly accepted and used in the energy sector, and the water management industry is rapidly embracing this technology.
Cadia has monitored these trends closely, and has assisted a number of councils as they move towards upgrading their systems to enable smart metering capabilities.
Two way interrogation to identify water theft
Water utilities across Australia are under increasing pressure to address the challenges caused by water shortages, population growth and climate change. With increased demand for water, inaccurate metering is no longer viable or acceptable.
Effective monitoring of water consumption is essential in the management of Australia’s precious water resources.
The traditional manual recording of water consumption data performed by utilities every three months results in infrequent data collection.
This process only provides limited information and fails to give a clear understanding of water use behaviour, leakages or seasonal variations. Smart water meters offer an intelligent efficient alternative with a range of functions that go above and beyond traditional water meters.
Smart water meters enable early leak detection by picking up even the smallest leaks which will help to save water and reduce customer bills. They also eliminate the need for field operators to manually read a property’s water meter which may result in inaccuracies should an operator be unable to access the meter.
In the long term, the efficiency of smart water meters has the potential to reduce water bills, while the data collected can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of demand management programs and conservation initiatives, as well as identify peak demand patterns.
Making the change
Cadia has recently invested in a six month smart meter research project, speaking to councils, suppliers and IT experts, to collate and assess information about the industry and the way smart meters can be used in the marketplace.
As a result of the project, it is clear that councils are well aware that the move to a smart meter water system is not as straightforward as issuing a tender to market, and that there are a myriad of options and methods that need to be considered in order to accurately identify the most effective solution.
Accordingly, Cadia has developed a model to offer on-site analysis and a full needs assessment which is then used to customise a smart meter solution which will address the local challenges and capture opportunities to better manage resources.
This “Cadia Concierge” service can provide on-site training and education, beginning with initial assessment and continuing through the deployment of the smart meter system.
By using smart water meters, customers and ratepayers experience increased awareness of their water usage, with Cadia able to assist councils with developing an online system that provides them with access to their own data.
Through partnering with hardware manufacturers, Cadia now offers meters that are able to withstand the harsh operating conditions of the Australian landscape (both heat and frost proof), with a long battery life and significant capacity for individual meter data interrogation.
Cadia’s ISO Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and Quality Assurance accreditations are testament to the stringent standards it operates within, and your assurance that your smart meter upgrade will be managed in a professional, sustainable and ethical way.
This partner content is brought to you by Cadia Group. For more information, visit www.cadia.com.au.
