Hunter Water, one of New South Wales' largest water utilities, is set to implement a pilot programme to trial advanced digital water meters across its service area. The initiative aims to enhance water management, improve leak detection, and provide customers with detailed, real-time water usage data.
According to a press release by the supplier, Intellihub, the pilot project will see 500 digital water meters installed at residential and business properties, including 50 local businesses, to test how frequent consumption data, such as updates every 30 minutes, can drive efficiency and reduce costs. Hunter Water Executive Manager Customer Service, Matt Hingston, said access to more detailed, timely water consumption data is key to better serving customers.
The new technology offers numerous advantages. Digital meters can detect leaks in homes or businesses and alert customers early, enabling faster action to save water and reduce expenses. Additionally, the meters will help Hunter Water identify breaks in its distribution network, allowing for quicker response times and minimizing water loss. “That information means we could detect high consumption or water leaks much faster, and then advise customers much sooner so they can act, saving precious drinking water and helping the environment,” Hingston added.
Intellihub, supplying the meters and integrating communication platforms, emphasized the transformative potential of digital meters. “Across Australia, digital water meters have already helped to save millions of litres of water and significantly reduce costs for customers, while streamlining operations for network operators,” said Intellihub GM Smart Water, Inge Diamond.
As part of the pilot project, Intellihub will evaluate various advanced digital metering and cloud technologies to determine the most suitable solutions for Hunter Water and its customers. This includes testing options like ultrasonic measurement technology, pulse loggers, and advanced communication platforms to assess their performance in local conditions.
