AMR/AMI

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.

Jerry Stevens, vowing to ?convert the brain drain into the brain power of young professionals,? was elected as AWWA?s next president-elect Jan. 18 during the winter meeting of the association?s Board of Directors.

The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) announced that Charles Firlotte, president and chief executive officer of Aquarion Co., has been named president of the NAWC board of directors.

The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District has selected HDR to perform a sustainability study for its proposed 20-24 million-gallon-per-day Northern Treatment Plant, which is to be located just north of Brighton along the South Platte River.