Beyond Billing: Exploring the Full Potential of Cellular AMI Systems

While some water utilities may struggle to justify an investment into cellular AMI or view it only as a solution to meter reads and billing, the capabilities of these systems extend far beyond that. As battery and communication technology evolves, AMI systems can be connected to network sensors and instruments, creating a level of visibility into and control over water distribution systems that simply isn’t possible with flow data alone.

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are essential tools for automating and optimizing specific treatment plant processes. Cellular AMI systems enhance those capabilities, supplementing traditional SCADA systems with flow data across a network. The near real-time data serves as an indicator of demand changes across distributed data collection points. This level of insight can help to increase responsiveness and, for budget-conscious water utilities, generate a better return on investment (ROI) for an AMI system—especially when the flow data is leveraged for additional data integration applications.

Pressure-Driven Precision

Pressure sensors are integral to understanding a water system’s operational parameters. While flow meters provide insights into water movement, pressure sensors offer valuable information about how a system is responding to operating changes and demand fluctuations. Monitoring pressure at a high resolution can be useful for helping operators identify potential trouble spots or areas requiring further investigation.

Although some flow meters also have pressure and temperature measurement capabilities, the deployment of additional pressure sensors in the network enables utilities to examine specific incidents like water hammer events and pressure surges. Deeper insights provide operators with context to identify root causes, demonstrating how the synergy between pressure and flow data enables proactive maintenance strategies.

Maintaining service pressure is another key function of pressure sensors. By deploying these sensors strategically throughout the network, utilities gain invaluable insights into actual pressure conditions experienced by end customers around the clock and throughout the year. This real-time data allows utilities to adjust pressure levels dynamically. This can optimize network operations to meet service standards and, due to added efficiency, reduce pumping costs and electricity consumption.

Water Quality Assurance

The top three expenses impacting water utilities are power, personnel, and chemical costs—and water quality management affects all three. As water moves through the system, its quality is dynamic and constantly changing. The integration of real-time water quality monitoring in AMI systems provides utilities with a steady stream of data points that operators can use to swiftly identify fluctuations and trends, especially in areas with varying demand or for critical customers like hospitals and dialysis centers.

Today’s water quality monitoring systems track more than just pH and chlorine levels; they measure a broad spectrum of substances and conditions that influence water chemistry. Unlike periodic sampling, real-time water quality data eliminates guesswork, empowering water utilities with actionable insights to detect water quality issues as they happen. This proactive approach enables utilities to make operational adjustments promptly, optimizing treatment processes and streamlining resource allocation.

Data-Driven Efficiency

For years, SCADA and water network data management tools have provided dashboards with a comprehensive view of system operations, ranging from high-level management insights to detailed technical data. With many systems now operating in the cloud, utilities have more flexibility to access and utilize data points according to their specific needs.

Centralized data systems offer utilities the advantage of accessing a unified repository that presents data consistently and allows for multidimensional analysis. This capability enables utilities to detect trends, identify patterns, and make informed decisions regarding system maintenance, customer service, and operational efficiency. Furthermore, transparent and accessible data fosters collaboration and information sharing across stakeholders for efficient resource allocation and improved service delivery.

Choosing an AMI System

When choosing an AMI system, water utilities should consider the following factors:

• Needs of the utility. The system must be able to address specific pain points.
• Vendor experience. This refers both to the number of years the company has been in business as well as the background of the staff. For example, someone who has actually worked for (not just with) a utility is more likely to understand which features or systems can provide the desired solution without over- or underselling.
• Associated costs. Reduced truck rolls and more accurate bills are some of the obvious benefits of AMI for billing and meter reads. But with a full system AMI that includes pressure sensors and water quality monitoring, utilities can realize much bigger returns by reducing chemical costs, identifying and fixing leaks faster (and with less manpower), and more. There are also less tangible ROIs, such as faster customer service resolutions, fewer complaints, and more consistent water quality.

The impact of cellular AMI systems on water utility operations can be truly transformational, delivering benefits far beyond meter reads and billing. With the ability to integrate data from pressure sensors and real-time water quality monitoring, AMI systems bring measurable value to water utilities by ensuring better visibility and control over the entire distribution system. By leveraging a centralized data system, AMI equips water utilities with the insights they need to improve system efficiency, reduce expenses and deliver excellent customer service to their communities.