Metering.com 11 OCTOBER 2016
Canadian utility Halifax Water secured approval from the Novia Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) to upgrade its water meters.
The water treatment and distribution firm will replace existing analogue water meters with automated water metering systems as from early 2017 through to 2021.
The $25.4 million smart meter project will begin with installation of the new metering technology to a few hundred customers of Halifax Water.
Halifax Water will expand the project to full rollout in line with lessons learnt from the pilot.
The smart water meters are expected to help the firm optimise its operations, improve customer service and revenue collection.
The project will allow Halifax Water reduce its operational expenses incurred in implementing door-to-door meter readings.
In addition, the system will ensure the firm minimises its carbon footprint from driving vehicles during meter readings.
More importantly, Halifax Water said it is confident the new system will help address non-revenue water through quick detection of water leakages within its distribution network system.
The smart meters project falls under efforts by Halifax Water to modernise its water distribution network.
Ray Ritcey, Chairman at Halifax Water Board, said: “This technology is a critical step in enhancing our service to existing and future customers.”
Rollout of smart water meters
In related news, the US town of Cranberry in Pennsylvania state received approval to replace existing water meters with digital meters in a bid to improve its revenue collection.
The town will replace 7,800 water meters in the first quarter of 2017. The project will include the replacement of all water meters installed before 2009.
The programme is expected to cost $3 million and will help consumers manage water consumption and lower their bills.
Cranberry is currently searching for a firm to partner for implementation of the programme.
The firm will install the digital water meters together with communication infrastructure including antennas to transmit usage data to the towns’ hub.
The system will help the town better manage its water resource by providing usage data eight times a day. [Texas city to enhance billing system with smart water meters]
Jason Daily, director of public works in Cranberry, commented: “With a traditional meter you might have a problem and never know it until you get your bill.
“This way, you would know almost immediately.”
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