Premium
AMR Technology Helps Utility Avert Water Shortage
Author(s) -
Motz Tim,
Butler Thomas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
opflow
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1551-8701
pISSN - 0149-8029
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8701.2011.tb03084.x
Subject(s) - economic shortage , evening , consumption (sociology) , benchmark (surveying) , automatic meter reading , water consumption , morning , reading (process) , environmental economics , water scarcity , agricultural economics , computer science , water resources , water resource management , environmental science , telecommunications , government (linguistics) , geography , economics , medicine , sociology , cartography , philosophy , ecology , linguistics , biology , social science , law , political science , wireless , physics , astronomy
This article discusses how Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA), New York, used mobile automated meter reading (AMR) technology to establish a consumption benchmark among customers in a study area by monitoring consumption patterns. The collected data supported SCWA's theory by showing a morning and evening usage rate three times higher than during the day. Analysis also showed an interesting trend ‐ 3 percent of the homes consumed 25 percent of the 11 mil gal, and 12 percent of the homes used 50 percent of all water consumed. This information will help SCWA enhance its education and awareness program to help customers better understand their water consumption and adjust usage accordingly.