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Sandy, Oregon, Reduces Water Loss And Saves Money With A Suite Of New Technology

Sandy, Oregon, Reduces Water Loss And Saves Money With A Suite Of New TechnologyThe City of Sandy, Oregon, has about 4,200 service connections and a staff of about 10 people, only two of which are boots-on-the-ground water technicians. Roughly half of the City’s water comes from local sources, but with not enough capacity at the treatment plant to meet supply, the City also purchases water. To keep costs low the City takes water loss very seriously. Joe Johanesen, water supervisor for the City knows that you can’t manage what you can’t measure. To address this, the City upgraded to Mueller Solid State Registers (SSR) with a complete AMI network with five collectors and six repeaters. “Prior to installing the AMI system, meter reading was a very manual process, and it cost the city $3,000 a month for a meter reader just to read half the service area," Johanesen said. "The AMI installation has saved the City money, and those savings have gone back into the program to help absorb network and maintenance costs.” It has also given the city the ability to get daily, or on-demand, meter reads as opposed to only once a month. And with the contouring topography of Sandy’s service area, utility staff can accurately read meters remotely in hard-to-read areas. To help keep an eye on complete system usage, the City can also set water use limits for certain connections such as businesses with high water usage and nearby water districts that the city wholesales water to. In 2024, the City began taking more steps toward modernizing its system, launching a smart city initiative to bring more intelligence to its utility management. Building on the success of its AMI program, the City started a new project to quantify water loss, identify and repair leaks, and optimize pressure management. This systematic approach would allow the City to target critical water loss areas and quantify the results and savings.

Xylem Acquires Majority Stake In Idrica

Xylem Acquires Majority Stake In IdricaXylem announced on December 10, 2024, that it has acquired a majority stake in Idrica, a water data management and analytics company. Xylem Vue, which combines Xylem’s existing digital water solutions portfolio with Idrica’s technology platform, allows customers to address challenges such as water scarcity and aging infrastructure with real-time insights. The majority stake will allow the two companies to further integrate their solutions for a better customer experience. “Deepening our partnership with Idrica is a critical piece of our strategy to deliver intelligent solutions to our customers,” said Matthew Pine, CEO of Xylem, in a press release. “Together, we can help them see deeper into their networks and use insights to solve long-standing problems like water loss more effectively and affordably than ever before.” According to Xylem, water utilities worldwide have deployed the Xylem Vue software over the past six months. “Every day, water utilities are challenged by complex systems that make it difficult to use data to make decisions,” said Jaime Barba, CEO of Idrica, in a press release. “Our deeper partnership will further enable water and wastewater utilities to connect and manage their digital assets and streamline operations in a simple, secure and holistic view.”

Nyc Dep Launches Program To Upgrade Water Meters Citywide

Nyc Dep Launches Program To Upgrade Water Meters CitywideThe New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced on December 2, 2024, the start of a program to upgrade more than 600,000 Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) devices across the city over the next three years. The AMR device is the small gray box attached to the exterior of a property that wirelessly transmits water consumption readings from the water meter to DEP. This work will begin in the Greenpoint neighborhood and the upgrades to the existing AMR devices will provide several key benefits including: The upgrade program is mandatory for all property owners and DEP will perform the work at no charge. Most AMR devices are located on the exterior of the property so no appointments will be necessary to complete the upgrade. Residents may see DEP technicians and/or contractors approach their property and walk the perimeter of the building to identify the location of the AMR device. The DEP technicians or contractors will be clearly identified with DEP logos on their uniforms and will produce proper identification, including a DEP ID card, upon request. They will travel in vehicles with DEP markings and will never ask for payment. Property owners are asked to: Technicians may move garbage cans or open unlocked gates to access the AMR device if needed. Property owners must allow DEP staff or contractors access to the AMR device; failure to provide access may result in a fee. Once the AMR device is found, the technician will remove the old unit, install a new unit in the same location, and test the unit to ensure it is working. Upgrades take 15-30 minutes per property. Technicians will clean up and take any/all debris with them. If the technician cannot access an AMR device, they may return during an evening or weekend. In some cases, property owners may receive a letter from DEP requesting an appointment to replace the AMR device because DEP must access the interior of the property to complete the upgrade.

New York Improves Water Data Quality With New Machine Learning Technology

New York Improves Water Data Quality With New Machine Learning TechnologyThe water supply system for New York City provides drinking water to almost half the state’s population, which includes over 8.5 million people in the city and 1 million people in upstate counties. New York’s Catskill/Delaware System is one of the world’s most extensive unfiltered surface water supplies. The city’s water is supplied from a network of 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes that contain a total storage capacity of approximately 570 billion gallons. The reservoir levels are primarily determined by the balance between streamflow into the reservoirs, diversions (withdrawals) for water supply, and releases to maintain appropriate flows in the rivers below the dams. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) pulls sensor data from 445 locations every five minutes to monitor the safe flow of water. Some of these locations have multiple sensors measuring hydrological data such as water levels, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, turbidity, etc. All this data, as well as U.S. Geological Survey and National Weather Service information, is managed in Aquarius, an analytics software platform that water monitoring agencies around the world use to acquire, process, model, and publish water information in real-time. The data is used for operational modeling and daily awareness of what is happening in the system, so having reliable information is essential. Data quality can be affected by various factors, such as faulty sensors, measurement errors, missing values, outdated information, or anomalies caused by maintenance, resulting in an unusual spike or a drop in data. Poor quality data in water flow management can lead to inaccurate predictions, inefficient operations, and water quality issues. To ensure reliable and effective water flow management, quality data that reflects the current and future conditions of the water system is essential.

Leveraging Data To Optimize Shipping Through The Panama Canal While Protecting Local Water Supply

Leveraging Data To Optimize Shipping Through The Panama Canal While Protecting Local Water SupplyThe Panama Canal, a 51-mile waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is considered the most vital piece of infrastructure for the transport of international trade in the Western Hemisphere. This trans-oceanic corridor, which reduces vessel travel time between New York and San Francisco by more than half, supports 6% of global maritime trade as a primary route connecting North Asia and the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States. In 2003 alone, 14,000 vessels transited the Panama Canal, carrying more than 500 million tons of cargo. The Panama Canal’s lock system is reliant on water from the Chagres River, which is stored in two manmade lakes: Gatun and Alajuela. Water from the lakes fills a series of locks that lift ships 85 feet above sea level to Gatun Lake and lowers them on the other side, allowing vessels to move freely between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Managing the water levels in Gatun and Alajuela Lakes is critical to the Panama Canal’s function with a single vessel transit using 52 million gallons of fresh water and an average of 36 ships transiting the Canal per day. Maintaining sufficient water levels is also critical for the 2.5 million residents of Panama City and Colón who depend on the Chagres River for their drinking water and municipal wastewater treatment. Hydropower is generated in Gatun and Alhajuela, mostly for internal Canal operations. The balancing act of maintaining optimal lake levels is carried out by the Panama Canal Authority (PCA). The agency accomplishes this by collecting and leveraging vast amounts of data, which is used for hydrological modeling and forecasting, to support strategies to economize the use of a finite resource. Scattered across the watersheds, 55 scientific stations collect information related to precipitation, water temperature, wind speeds, dewpoint, humidity, tides, water levels, and runoff. The PCA consolidates this raw data, along with S-band weather radar information in Aquarius, a software platform, that acquires, organizes, models, and assures data quality before publishing in real-time.

U.S. Epa Announces $156 Million Loan To Improve Water Infrastructure In Texas City

U.S. Epa Announces $156 Million Loan To Improve Water Infrastructure In Texas CityThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on November 15, 2024, a new $156 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Pflugerville, Texas, to support drinking water infrastructure upgrades and continue to ensure that the entire community can rely on clean, safe drinking water. “Upgrading water infrastructure is one of the best ways to support vibrant communities. Clean, safe, and reliable water nurtures healthy residents and protects the environment while construction work on these upgrades creates good-paying jobs,” said EPA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott in a press release. This WIFIA loan will enable the city to plan, design and construct three drinking-water projects. The city will expand its water treatment plant and increase the capacity of the existing drinking water distribution system by upsizing pipes, constructing a new secondary Colorado River Raw Water Line, and upgrading pump stations. Together, these projects will help the city meet current and future demand. With this loan, the EPA and the city of Pflugerville are also announcing a $462 million master agreement, which will facilitate future low-cost WIFIA financing to support upcoming drinking water and wastewater projects. Through WIFIA financing, the city will save up to $6.5 million in interest costs. By securing a $462 million master agreement, the city increases its funding certainty to implement critical projects outlined in its 10-year capital improvement program plan and will have the flexibility to draw loan funds at any time during construction to reimburse for project costs. As a result, the city can make critical water system upgrades while keeping water bills affordable for the community. Additionally, the projects will create about 1,200 jobs. This is the second WIFIA loan to the city. In 2022, the City of Pflugerville was awarded the first WIFIA loan, totaling $52 million, to support the Wilbarger Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. “Congratulations to Pflugerville for securing this $156 million EPA loan with more to investments to come. Through this loan program and unprecedented funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is working with local partners across the country to address community needs and create new opportunities through water,” Pigott said in the press release.

Three Ways To Assess Your Smart Utility Readiness

Three Ways To Assess Your Smart Utility ReadinessIt’s a fact: The water sector is smarter than ever before, and it’s only getting smarter. Across the U.S., water utilities expect to invest $8.3 billion in smart infrastructure by 2027 to meet the need for modernization, according to a study by Northeast Group. Water and wastewater utilities can use digital technologies to support traditional water infrastructure. Smart tools provide utilities greater awareness and control over their operations. If utilities are hoping to reduce operational costs, increase efficiency, and identify problems early, smart tools can help with that. These tools can also enhance decision-making, regulatory compliance, security, and more. An intelligent water system is a set of interconnected pieces of technology that collect and analyze datasets. Utilities can use that data to support automation or decisions. But some utilities may feel overwhelmed by intelligent water systems. Where do you start? What do you focus on? How do you set your scope? That’s why it’s important to have upfront conversations. We’ve spent years working with utilities and other clients implementing digital tools. We recognize the overwhelming feelings that come with the change. We think it’s vital to analyze your readiness for intelligent water systems early on. Are you ready for a smart utility transformation now? If not, how do you get ready? Let’s explore three ways to assess your smart utility readiness. During our years working with clients on their utility management, we’ve noticed two approaches when they’re considering smart tools. For example, just because you’ve taken a digital approach to your collection system doesn’t mean that you’re a smart utility. It just means that you’ve likely improved your collection system operations. If you want to become a smart utility in everything you do, that could be a huge effort. Especially compared with transforming just one part of your operation. So, at the outset, utility managers need to establish their scope of work. What’s your goal? Why do you want to incorporate intelligent water systems? Once you ask those questions, the logistics will follow. It drives your behavior and defines your commitment, resources, and cost. If you don’t take the time to define your goals, it could lead to confusion, frustration, and a lack of direction. You’ll likely waste money and time, and potentially abandon your project.

Daupler Wins “Smart Water Vendor To Watch” At Sws24

Daupler Wins “Smart Water Vendor To Watch” At Sws24Charlotte Harbor, FL – Sept. 22-24, 2024. The 2024 Smart Water Summit (SWS) announced Daupler as the “Smart Water Vendor to Watch” at SWS24 held September 22-24, 2024 at Sunseeker Resort. The 2024 Smart Water Summit had 38 participating smart water technology vendors competing in three award categories: (1) Best Smart Water Solution, (2) Smart Water Vendor to Watch, and (3) Best Overall Vendor Presentation. Awards were voted on by the 85 utility people in attendance representing water utilities and vendors from across North America. Daupler received the 2024 SWS “Smart Water Vendor to Watch” award. Daupler gives utilities the information and tools to best respond to service requests and emergencies while eliminating unnecessary calls, callouts, and manual steps that make work harder than necessary. The top three partners nominated for being the smart water vendor to watch also included Kamstrup and Master Meter. Smart Summits consists of two annual utility business development summits: Smart Utility Summit (SUS) for electric public power utilities, cooperative utilities and investor-owned utilities, and Smart Water Summit (SWS) for water utilities. As exclusive and invitation only summits, the events provide a private boardroom format that offers participating technology vendors access to the executive leadership of North America’s electric and water utilities. In 2024, 10 roundtable discussions on critical issues facing water utility directors were also added to SWS. Companies interested in participating in the 2025 summits should contact:

Voda.Ai Wins “Best Smart Water Solution” At Sws24

Voda.Ai Wins “Best Smart Water Solution” At Sws24Charlotte Harbor, FL – Sept. 22-24, 2024. The 2024 Smart Water Summit (SWS) announced Voda.AI as the “Best Smart Water Solution” at SWS24 held September 22-24, 2024 at Sunseeker Resort. The 2024 Smart Water Summit had 38 participating smart water technology vendors competing in three award categories: (1) Best Smart Water Solution, (2) Smart Water Vendor to Watch, and (3) Best Overall Vendor Presentation. Awards were voted on by the 85 utility people in attendance representing water utilities and vendors from across North America. Voda.AI received the 2024 SWS “Best Smart Water Solution” award. VODA.ai software is designed to help utilities around the globe lower their water loss by planning better, finding weak and leaky pipes, and preventing catastrophic failures. The top three partners nominated for having the best smart water solution also included Kamstrup and Master Meter. Smart Summits consists of two annual utility business development summits: Smart Utility Summit (SUS) for electric public power utilities, cooperative utilities and investor-owned utilities, and Smart Water Summit (SWS) for water utilities. As exclusive and invitation only summits, the events provide a private boardroom format that offers participating technology vendors access to the executive leadership of North America’s electric and water utilities. In 2024, 10 roundtable discussions on critical issues facing water utility directors were also added to SWS. Companies interested in participating in the 2025 summits should contact:

Master Meter Wins “Best Overall Partner Presentation” At Sws24

Master Meter Wins “Best Overall Partner Presentation” At Sws24Charlotte Harbor, FL – Sept. 22-24, 2024. The 2024 Smart Water Summit (SWS) announced Master Meter as the “Best Overall Vendor Presentation” at SWS24 held September 22-24, 2024 at Sunseeker Resort. The 2024 Smart Water Summit had 38 participating smart water technology vendors competing in three award categories: (1) Best Smart Water Solution, (2) Smart Water Vendor to Watch, and (3) Best Overall Vendor Presentation. Awards were voted on by the 85 utility people in attendance representing water utilities and vendors from across North America. Master Meter received the 2024 SWS "Best Overall Partner Presentation" award. Master Meter's mission is to deliver world-class innovative technology to water utilities to ensure efficient, effective, and lasting resource management capability. The top three partners nominated for having the best overall vendor presentation also included Kamstrup and Voda.AI. Smart Summits consists of two annual utility business development summits: Smart Utility Summit (SUS) for electric public power utilities, cooperative utilities and investor-owned utilities, and Smart Water Summit (SWS) for water utilities. As exclusive and invitation only summits, the events provide a private boardroom format that offers participating technology vendors access to the executive leadership of North America’s electric and water utilities. In 2024, 10 roundtable discussions on critical issues facing water utility directors were also added to SWS. Companies interested in participating in the 2025 summits should contact:

Water Treatment Projects Continue At Illinois American Water’S Treatment Plant In Streator

Water Treatment Projects Continue At Illinois American Water’S Treatment Plant In StreatorA new ultraviolet treatment system at the Streator, Illinois, water plant allows for an important, additional disinfection step in the water treatment process and further protects the local community’s drinking water. The equipment uses ultraviolet light to treat for bacteria and microorganisms that could be present in the raw water from the Vermillion River. As the water passes through the equipment, the ultraviolet lights emit a frequency that impacts organisms in the raw water. “The ultraviolet treatment system equipment adds additional treatment capabilities to the water treatment process without the use of additional chemicals,” said Illinois American Water Operations Superintendent, Streator District, Holly hunt in a press release. “It is an effective, environmentally friendly solution, reinforcing our commitment to clean, safe and reliable water service to our customers.” The investment will also help meet water quality regulations associated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. Construction started in 2022, and the ultraviolet treatment system went into service in 2023. Project cost was $4.27 million. Vissering Construction of Streator is the contractor, with all work being done by union employees. Additionally, a $3.5 million project is underway to make improvements to two older water filters at the plant. This project includes the construction of a structure over the plant’s sedimentation and flocculation basins for additional protection. Construction began in late 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Vissering Construction in the contractor for this job as well, with union employees handling all work.

California Supports Projects To Bolster Drinking Water Systems And Climate Resilience

California Supports Projects To Bolster Drinking Water Systems And Climate ResilienceThe California State Water Resources Control Board distributed approximately $880 million to water systems and communities during the past fiscal year for projects that will benefit around 12 million Californians. 395 projects across the state have received funding to capture and recycle more water, recharge and protect groundwater, improve stormwater management, expand access to safe drinking water and improve sanitation. Since 2019, nearly 900,000 more Californians now have access to clean drinking water through state efforts including these investments and the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resiliency (SAFER) program, which is largely funded by cap-and-trade dollars. These projects advance the administrations all-of-the-above approach to building water resilience through storage, recycling, desalination, conservation and more, and they further the state’s efforts to build more, faster through upgrades to critical infrastructure across the state. This past year, nearly two-thirds of the State Water Board’s total financial assistance, or about $570 million, was given as grants for drinking water and wastewater projects to disadvantaged communities, as well as groundwater recharge and remediation and stormwater projects. A total of $62.8 million went towards new projects that will recycle, capture and store more water, adding over 8,300 acre-feet per year to the state’s supplies. Over the last three years, the State Water Board has distributed more than $5.2 billion to infrastructure projects and drinking water systems, drawing from multiple sources including the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With estimates that hotter, drier conditions could reduce California’s water supply by up to 10% by the year 2024, the state is implementing multi-faceted solutions to safeguard and boost water supplies as outlined in the California Water Plan, Water Supply Strategy and Water Resilience Portfolio.