Itron, a provider of smart metering solutions for energy and water utilities, has signed a contract with City of Lancaster Public Works Department to improve the city’s water efficiency and customer service.
The city will modernize its distribution system with Itron’s smart water solution and use Itron Total Outcomes to maintain the communications network and host Itron’s analytics application.
Itron’s solution will enable the City of Lancaster to enhance customer service, improve operational analysis and better understand consumer demand by turning detailed meter data into actionable intelligence using analytics. The city will be able to improve water efficiency through detection of residential plumbing leaks.
The city’s initial analysis indicates that the technology will save taxpayers an estimated $130,000 to $200,000 per year, Itron said.
The city will use a hybrid deployment of mobile and network communications to gather meter data, which will help improve the efficiency and accuracy of meter reading. With Itron Total Outcomes, Itron’s team of experts will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the network.
“The city’s priority is to replace our aging infrastructure so we can avoid water waste and costly repairs. Itron’s technology gives us the tools to ensure the efficient delivery of water,” said Charlotte Katzenmoyer, director of public works at the City of Lancaster.
“We look forward to benefiting from detailed meter data and analytics to give us better visibility into our system,” Katzenmoyer added. “And with Itron Total Outcomes, we don’t have to worry about ongoing hardware or software maintenance.”
Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray commented that the technology will save the city taxpayers from bearing the high cost of dealing with water main breaks. It will also help their residential and commercial customers identify leaks on their own property, so they can have it repaired and avoid being surprised with a huge water bill.
“Information is at the core of water efficiency. With our smart water solution, the City of Lancaster will gain the data and insights it needs to better manage its system and ensure the resourceful delivery of water,” said Paula Billingham, Itron vice president of sales, marketing and delivery for Water North America.
“Coupled with Itron Total Outcomes, we are making it easier for the City of Lancaster to focus on gaining benefits from our solution instead of having to focus time and resources on maintenance,” Billingham added.
Rajani Baburajan