Water scarcity is a growing concern around the world, with more than two billion people currently living in water-stressed areas. One of the major challenges for water service providers is non-revenue water (NRW) losses, which occur due to leaks, theft, metering inaccuracies, and other factors. According to the World Bank, NRW accounts for up to 50% of total water production in some countries. To tackle this problem, water service providers (WSPs) are turning to smart meters, which use advanced technology to accurately measure water consumption and detect leaks in real-time.
Active meters
Leak detection accuracy
Billing accuracy
Reduction in manual readings
What are Smart Meters?
Smart meters are electronic devices that measure and record water consumption in real-time. Unlike traditional meters, which require manual reading, smart meters transmit data wirelessly, allowing water service providers to monitor consumption patterns and detect leaks immediately. Smart meters can also detect illegal connections and water theft, helping service providers to reduce NRW losses and improve efficiency.
How Do Smart Meters Help Reduce NRW Losses?
Smart meters are a valuable tool for reducing NRW losses in several ways:
- Accurate Measurement: Smart meters provide accurate measurements of water consumption, eliminating metering inaccuracies that can lead to overbilling or underbilling. By providing accurate data on water consumption, smart meters help water service providers to optimize their operations and reduce costs.
- Leak Detection: Smart meters can detect leaks in real-time, allowing water service providers to quickly identify and repair them. This reduces NRW losses and saves energy and resources that would have been used to produce and distribute the lost water
- Theft Detection: Smart meters can also detect illegal connections and water theft. By monitoring water usage patterns, service providers can quickly detect anomalies and investigate potential theft or unauthorized usage. This helps to reduce NRW losses and improve revenue collection.
- Customer Empowerment: Smart meters provide customers with real-time data on their water consumption, allowing them to better understand their usage patterns and take steps to reduce their water bills. This can lead to more sustainable water usage practices and help to reduce overall water demand.
The Benefits
- Improved Revenue Collection: Smart meters can help water service providers to improve revenue collection by detecting illegal connections and water theft.
- Reduced Costs: By reducing the amount of water that needs to be produced and distributed, smart meters help to save energy and resources, reducing costs for water service providers.
- Sustainable Water Usage: Smart meters empower customers to better understand their water usage patterns and take steps to reduce their water bills. This can lead to more sustainable water usage practices and help to reduce overall water demand.
- Improved Efficiency: Smart meters help water service providers to improve their efficiency by reducing NRW losses and optimizing their operations
