If you’ve thought about installing smart meters, it’s about to get easier
by Water Source
Smart metering is set to become even easier with the release of NarrowBand Internet of Things (NB-IoT) ultrasonic, intelligent water meters, which can be connected across a water provision network without the hassle of a communications system setup.
Sponsor of this year’s Australian Water Association NSW Legends of Water night WaterGroup has launched Australia’s first commercially available NB-IoT ready smart water meter, with the aim of making smart metering easier for utilities.
WaterGroup Managing Director Guenter Hauber-Davidson said aside from the benefits of the simplified deployment, the NB-IoT smart meters are also a low-cost solution to water loss management.
“With Australia’s big telecommunications companies switching on NB-IoT now, water utility managers can, for the first time, connect and deploy sophisticated smart water meters across their existing telco networks effortlessly without the need to first establish a communications system – and at low cost,” he said.
“These fully integrated, ultrasonic, intelligent water meters are ideal for residential dwellings, apartments, difficult-to-access basements and even rural zones where Optus, Vodafone or Telstra have enabled NB-IoT already.
“This makes them a convenient and cost-effective choice for water utilities, builders and strata managers.”
NB-IoT communication is integrated into the new smart meters, removing the need for mechanical wheels that wear out over time. Instead, the new technology uses advanced ultrasonic sensing technology to provide accurate meter readings for the entire life of the meter.
Hauber-Davidson said the new technology is expected to help utility managers curb water losses around Australia, while increasing the life-cycle of the meter.
“These new smart water meters will also enable WaterGroup to further build on our successes in helping our clients save water. [They] will play a key role to help water utility managers successfully tackle the huge water loss in Australia,” he said.
“Our urban and regional water systems deliver about two billion cubic metres of potable water every year. Yet 10-12% is lost through leaks and other causes such as unaccounted use of water.”
The new water meter will be on display at the WaterGroup stand B17 at Australian Utility Week in Melbourne on the 29-30 November.
Related podcast:
https://omny.fm/shows/australianwater/kylie-rogers-on-mackay-smart-sewers
