SMART is Knowing What Works In Water
Smart meters. Smart grids. Smart systems. You hear a lot about all things "smart," but what does it mean to you in the water industry? First, it's only smart for you if the technology is designed to solve pressing problems of water utilities – which can be very different from those of gas or electric.
For instance, Time-of-Use billing isn't as critical an issue for water, as water can be stored for distribution any time and doesn't have to be generated. However, conservation is arguably more important in the water industry – especially in communities where water is scarce. With tools such as smart encoders that measure down to a tenth of a gallon, the ability to detect small leaks can help monitor and curb excessive consumption.
Smart automatic meter reading (AMR) systems for water can provide the field intelligence that helps utilities focus both on conservation (demand-side management) and Non-Revenue Water (supply-side management). This type of automation is revolutionizing how utilities think of managing their resources, both natural and financial.
MORE AND MORE AMR CHOICES ARE AUTOMATIC
Most utilities know the term AMR. But they may be surprised at all the benefits beyond basic meter reading. For example, radio frequency MIUs working together with high resolution, 8-digit smart encoder registers make reading easier than ever. And with the addition of a fixed network data collector, gathering those reads is automatic too.
For instance, by adding Neptune's R900® Gateway Data Collector to an existing network of E-Coder® Solid State Absolute Encoder registers and R900® RF Meter Interface Units (MIUs), your ARB® Mobile™ System becomes ARB® Hybrid™, allowing you to target technology where the greatest benefit can be derived. You can collect more reads than ever before from dense populations – including areas with high rates of move-ins and move-outs – without having to send out readers for those routes.
Should you decide to go full fixed network, you'll find you're already most of the way there, with no stranded assets – because all R900 technology is designed to work together with migratable options:
- Reads collected automatically
- Captures reads in dense populations
- Allows split routes
- Eliminates truck rolls for move-ins/move-outs
- Supports water conservation
- Installs on rooftops, towers, etc.
- Rugged and weatherproof
- GPRS modem or Ethernet backhaul
- Allows migration to full fixed network
- No stranded assets
On the job, around the clock
With the right AMR system, utilities can automatically get the data they need every day. Leak, tamper, and reverse flow detection can be monitored by a smart encoder at 15-minute intervals, before being automatically forwarded via R900 RF MIUs for data collection. Daily monitoring of meters not only supports quicker detection of stopped meters and promotes more proactive maintenance schedules – but it also helps improve customer service and resolve high water bill disputes. To see how it all works, from E-Coder registers to R900 MIUs to ARB® N_SIGHT™ AMR software.
Automatically free up time and labor
Either by replacing walk-bys with mobile reads, or both with fixed network reading capability, utilities can save thousands of man-hours a year – freeing up valuable time and personnel resources to take on other tasks. Using Neptune's E-Coder, R900 MIU and R900 Gateway, one Georgia utility has found that a Neptune AMR System not only saves resources, but gives it more options going forward.
Now for the Rest of the News
From the latest product developments, to tips on better utility management, to stories on how utilities have experienced the benefits of ARB® Utility Management Systems™, your source is Neptune NOW, our magazine that captures the latest on the issues affecting your utility. Order your electronic copy of our June issue – FREE – just by clicking the link below and submitting your name and address.
Success can be automatic
With high-power radios for extensive range and rugged reliability, the message utilities receive is loud and clear – R900 RF technology makes AMR simple. With regular meter reading success rates within the 99th percentile, the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority is one of those utilities, and is seeing the benefits of its
ARB Hybrid System.
Take feet off the street – and even off the gas
No transposed numbers, no wrong addresses, no wrong remote counter installs. That's impressive enough. How about this – no truck rolls. Full fixed network is possible for AMR. Using just a handful of R900 Gateways, one utility in Pennsylvania now collects every read from its system without having to leave the office. It also collects advanced leak, tamper, and reverse flow information, along with data on customer consumption. Learn how ARB® FixedBase™ AMR makes
it easy.