Smart energy meters and smart power grids have been implemented to enable us to better manage our energy consumption and conserve energy. Technology is now being developed that will enable us to better manage our water consumption by converting our water supply network to a smart water grid that will allow us to conserve our precious water resources.

Smart Water Meter

While conventional water meters are typically only read once every couple of months, a smart water meter allows you to connect to your water utility, providing real-time data on your household's water consumption. Like a smart energy meter, this will allow you to better understand your water consumption patterns and aid in determining where you can make reductions and save on costs.

Smart Water Grid

By rolling out a system of smart management technology across the water network, including at water suppliers, water treatment facilities, and water distribution networks to effectively form a smart water grid, huge advances in water management and water conservation can be achieved.

Saving Water with Smart Water Meters

Smart water meters offer many benefits, including:

• Fast, efficient reading of water meters – utility staff can read water meters electronically, which will greatly simplify the water meter reading process.
• Allow swift detection of leaks or theft.
• Allow consumers to monitor their water use remotely.
• Allow consumers to get real-time pricing data to take advantage of cheaper rates during off-peak periods.
• Allow consumers to wisely manage their water consumption to enable them to make changes that can contribute towards water conservation.

Smart Water Meters Prevent Money Going Down the Drain

A recent study conducted by researchers from Griffith University's Smart Water Research Facility shows that using 'smart' water meters to identify water leaks in and around the home can produce substantial cost savings for consumers.

According to Project Leader, Associate Professor Rodney Stewart, the benefits extend beyond the financial savings and include wider environmental and economic benefits too. “Reducing the amount of water lost through leaks has further implications for both energy consumption and treatment costs,” says Stewart.

The study, which was recently published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, was conducted in and around Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia, where smart water meters were installed in 22,000 homes. By monitoring the water consumption of these households with the smart meter system, 4% of homes being monitored were identified as having a suspected water leak, with the customers being alerted. Of the customers contacted, 46% investigated the issue further, confirming that a leak was detected and repaired. In 70% of those cases the cost of repairing the leaks amounted to less than AUD$200 and in 50% of cases the repairs cost less than AUD$100. However, the overall result showed that water leakage was reduced by up to 91% in those households, which would amount to significant cost savings over time.

While the financial benefits are obvious, consumers surveyed suggested they were motivated by environmental issues and the need to conserve water rather than by the financial benefits afforded by repairing the leaks.

“Major urban centers across the globe will experience significant increases in demand for water as populations continue to grow,” Associate Professor Stewart said. “Questions around how much water is lost post-meter in households and what measures can be used to reduce those losses are vitally important for improving water management. This study confirmed that smart metering provides water utilities with a powerful tool to rapidly identify and address significant volumes of post-meter leakage. These findings will be of immense value to urban water managers attempting to reduce water demand or improve system efficiency.”

Journal Reference

Britton, T.C., Stewart, R.A.,& O'Halloran, K.R. (2013) Smart metering: enabler for rapid and effective post meter leakage identification and water loss management. Journal of Cleaner Production. 54: 166-176. DOI.10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.05.018.