AMR/AMI

As the largest water utility in the State of Rhode Island, Providence Water supplies 60 percent of the state?s drinking water, which includes wholesale distribution and 72,000 retail customer connections across 17 cities and towns.

The smart meter market has exploded as utilities increasingly deploy advanced metering technology to boost operational efficiency and improve bottom line performance.

Utilities across the nation are facing a growing problem. Aging water delivery systems, coupled with tighter local and national budgets, are leading to infrastructure failures. Among the problems are leaks and older meters that are losing their accuracy due to a lack of maintenance or needed replacement. As a result, non-revenue water has become a considerable concern, and locating the true source of water loss has become a top priority.

In the face of revenue pressures, increasing operational costs and manpower shortages, utilities can?t afford to ignore water loss. Nor can they afford to literally underestimate the problem. As utilities review better methods to conserve water and control costs, leak detection has become a critical component of any modern utility management system.

While automatic meter reading has been around for several decades, technological advances combined with economic and environmental conditions are increasing interest in smart metering systems.

In some countries, the potable water resources are so scarce that they are only permitted to pump water for short periods of time each day.

Water Utility Infrastructure Management (UIM) is pleased to announce that Steve Maxwell has joined its editorial board. Maxwell is Managing Director of TechKNOWLEDGEy Strategic Group, based in Boulder, Colo.

Aclara, a leader in Intelligent Infrastructure technologies part of the Utility Solutions Group of ESCO Technologies Inc., announced that the Toho Water Authority, Kissimmee, Fla., has chosen the STAR Network advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system for a phased deployment, beginning with a 5,100-meter pilot.

Attendees to the Plastic Pipes XV Conference, Sept. 20-22, 2010 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada will now have more sessions available than at previous conferences.

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) will receive $10 million in U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funds to evaluate new technologies that will help utilities cope with aging and failing water and wastewater systems.