Denmark’s Hjørring Vandselskab to install 20,000 smart water meters

Danish water utility Hjørring Vandselskab has partnered with technology firm Kamstrup to modernise its metering infrastructure for improved services and consumer billing.

Kamstrup will provide some 20,000 intelligent water meters, related infrastructure and technology, and a remote reading system for installation in Hjørring through November 2022.

Hjørring Vandselskab will leverage the system to remotely read and accurately bill consumer water usage, enhance operational efficiency and enable customers to improve their water efficiency through access to real-time data on usage.

Kamstrup will provide and install a communication network that will be used by the water meters for data telemetry, as well as operate the network and infrastructure for a period of 15 years.

Hjørring Vandselskab says the project will help align the company’s operations with changing business models, as well as enable the provision of better customer services.

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Tommy Mostrup from Hjørring Vandselskab said: ”We look forward to being able to provide an even better service to our customers, who now avoid having to read their meters themselves. At the same time, they also get much better insight to their own water consumption, as it is possible to get recurring data from the meters.

”With the new technology customers not only get the option of tracking their water consumption, but they also are able to react to hidden leaks, because the meters have alarms that warn against leaks. That way it is possible to react earlier and hopefully prevent damage before it escalates.”

The partnership between Hjørring Vandselskab and Kamstrup comes as calls increase for the water industry to speed up the deployment of digital tools to enhance water conservation as a climate mitigation mechanism and for utilities to address non-revenue water due to theft and leaks.

According to Research and Markets, the water sector has been lagging behind other industries in deploying smart tools in recent years. However, the deployment of digital tools such as smart meters, data analytics and AI will help the industry improve water supply security, enhance the monitoring of water quality and improve infrastructure asset management.