Australia’s Hunter Water to trial smart meters
Image: Intellihub
New South Wales water utility Hunter Water is to trial smart water meters at 500 homes and businesses in targeted parts of its supply area.
The aim is to explore how detailed and frequent consumption data can help customers save water and improve network management, and in particular to identify leaks.
The meters are to be supplied by Antipodean metering provider Intellihub, which also will connect the data and communications platforms into Hunter Water’s systems.
Hunter Water Executive Manager Customer Service, Matt Hingston, said access to more detailed, timely water consumption data from smart meters is key to better serving their customers.
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“That information means we could detect high consumption or water leaks much faster and then advise customers much sooner so they can act, saving precious drinking water and helping the environment.
“This technology trial will help us continue to be efficient and keep our customers’ bills as low as possible.”
Hunter Water is one of the largest water providers in New South Wales, supplying water and wastewater services to more than 600,000 people across its supply area.
The digital meters should help Hunter Water detect water leaks at customers’ homes or businesses and alert them with a suggested course of action, as well as break or leaks in the water distribution network.
As part of the pilot Intellihub intends to assess a range of digital metering and cloud technology in order to help provide the best and most appropriate solution for Hunter Water and its customers.
Different solutions such as ultrasonic measurement technology, pulse loggers and advanced communications platforms will be tested to see how they perform in local conditions.
With the pilot Hunter Water should gain greater insights on data-driven forecasting and data requirements for the different teams in its business and understanding how the data can provide greater visibility and better and faster decision making across its portfolio of assets.
Intellihub GM Smart Water, Inge Diamond, said that across Australia digital water meters have already helped to save millions of litres of water and significantly reduce costs for customers, while streamlining operations for network operators.
“We look forward to working with Hunter Water to help them unlock the benefits from digital meter technology and data.”
