San Antonio Embraces Advanced Water Meter Technology
San Antonio is making waves with its latest initiative to improve water usage monitoring across the city. The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has recently hit a significant milestone by installing its 300,000th digital meter, which offers real-time monitoring of water consumption for its residents. This exciting development is part of the “ConnectH20” program, which aims to enhance water tracking efficiency for every customer.
Aiming for Full Coverage by 2025
With plans to replace over 610,000 meters, SAWS is on a cool pathway to complete the installation by the end of 2025—an entire year ahead of schedule! This ambitious move promises to give nearly half of the city’s water customers a modern upgrade to their monitoring systems, allowing both the utility and consumers to keep a close eye on their water usage.
Why is This Important?
You might be wondering what all this fuss about digital meters is really about. Well, for one, Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) meters allow homeowners to precisely track their water usage on an hourly basis rather than waiting for that monthly bill to dive into the details. This means that if there’s a leak or a surge in water use, it can be spotted a lot quicker—saving both water and money in the long run. According to Cecilia Velasquez, SAWS’ Vice-President of Customer Experience & Strategic Initiatives, any account showing continuous usage of five gallons per hour over the span of two days will prompt notifications via robocalls, emails, and texts. Yes, that’s right; they’ll give you a shout-out right when you need it!
Keeping an Eye on Drought Compliance
Beyond just monitoring water usage, this new technology helps the utility tackle compliance issues regarding local drought regulations. If someone inadvertently uses their irrigation system on the wrong day, they will get a “gentle reminder” to adhere to the guidelines. In case of continued violations, citations can range from $137 to $500, but Velasquez mentioned that the majority of those who receive the warnings adjust their usage patterns to get back on track.
Looking to the Future
With the potential for drought conditions on the horizon, Velasquez acknowledged that the data collected could play a role in enforcement decisions in the future. However, she assured that there are “no plans in the near future” to use this data solely for enforcing citations. A representative from SAWS added that while monitoring is helpful, they will never rely on this data alone. Any citations would still require a visual confirmation of the violations in question.
A Win-Win for the Community
In essence, the advanced meters not only promote responsible water use but also strengthen the community’s resilience against drought situations. It’s about empowering residents to take control of their own consumption while helping SAWS to support sustainable practices across San Antonio. As the city continues moving forward with its ConnectH20 initiative, it’s clear that these upgraded meters are setting the stage for a water-wise future.
In conclusion, as the final batches of meters are rolled out, San Antonio is proving that when technology meets community commitment, everybody wins. The more aware we are about our water usage, the better equipped we become to use this precious resource wisely.
