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More than 150,000 residential water customers in a 555-square mile service area in western Riverside County have been outfitted with smart water meters thanks to the commitment of Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) Board of directors and the work of the water district’s staff. The multi-years-long Automated Metering Infrastructure program will provide a range of benefits to EMWD customers, including the ability to obtain real-time water use information and leak detection services.
“This is a historic milestone in the history of our District,” EMWD President Ron Sullivan said. “By investing in advanced metering technology, we have the ability to help our customers better understand their water use and become more efficient in their homes and businesses.”
The installation of smart meters at all residential properties will foster the opportunity for the district’s residential water customers to better monitor their water usage and to optimize the system’s leak detection services. EMWD will now be investing in technologies to assist customers in accessing their own water use information for optimal usage of the system.
EMWD initially installed 22,000 smart meters between 2008 and 2014. Beginning in 2015, an additional 133,000 smart meters were installed, as well as supporting infrastructure such as regional transmission towers and a meter data management system.
Smart meters provide cost savings through a more efficient staffing model and a significant reduction in fuel costs associated with manually reading meters. EMWD has reported that since 2016 more than 33,000 customers have been contacted about potential leaks at their properties and more than 95 percent of those customers have taken steps to resolve the issue, thereby saving themselves money and preserving precious water resources.
Completion of EMWD’s Automated Metering Infrastructure program coincides with May’s Water Awareness Month. It is the latest of EMWD’s commitments to implement industry-leading technologies to improve their customers’ experience while improving cost efficiency and the preservation of California’s limited water resources.
