Metering.com 16 SEPTEMBER 2016
The city of Zephyrhills in Florida has selected FATHOM Water Management’s software solution for improved transparency with access to real time water usage data.
FATHOM’s Smart Grid for Water software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution will also be used to improve online and mobile account management and bill payments.
Smart Grid for Water is an integrated, end-to-end solution including infrastructure, software, services, utility billing and customer care operations. [Neptune adds FATHOM’s meter data tech to water utility partner programme]
Steve Spina, city manager of Zephyrhills, said: “We are excited to be the first water utility in Florida to implement the FATHOM Smart Grid for Water.
“We pride ourselves in providing stellar service to our residents and are committed to bringing our utility customers new tools, like an easy-to-use mobile app, to help them better manage and monitor their water consumption. Through FATHOM, we’ve upgraded our metering infrastructure and are using big data to increase utility revenue, improve operational efficiency and customer experience.”
Through the project, the city’s water utility believes that it will enhance its fiscal stewardship through high revenue assurance metrics, which reduces accounts receivable while improving the level of customer service and customer self-service. According to a company release, the FATHOM platform sets in motion exacting performance standards, designed to quickly deliver returns and positive cash flow at a reduced cost compared to previous systems.
“Florida is an exciting market for us as the region is grappling with challenges related to water quality and supply,” said Trevor Hill, CEO of FATHOM.
“We are delighted to begin a partnership with Zephyrhills and bring the utility and its customers the usage information and billing integrity they need.”
Smart water management
In June this year, smart water solutions firm FATHOM partnered with the water department in the city of Copperas Cove in Texas to assist in water distribution management.
The 15 year collaboration will allow the solutions provider to supply its smart grid for water portfolio to the city. The portfolio comprises infrastructure, software, services and utility billing and customer care operations.
In a press statement, FATHOM claims its solution will help the utility to improve its billing and revenue collection as well as enhance network management through real time insights on how the utility’s 33,000 customers use water.
Consumers will also be able to access their consumption data in real time. The partnership falls under the city’s efforts to improve its management of water following a drought which hit Copperas Cove in 2015.
Commenting on the development, Andrea Gardner, city manager of Copperas Cove, said: “Over the next few years, our city is committed to improving revenue, decreasing water loss and improving customer service. As water resources grow increasingly volatile, we’re implementing a big data management solution to help us build a resilient water system.” [US firms launch R&D facility for water technologies].