Friday, 07 September 2007 01:44

Amador Water Agency Beginning an Automated Meter Reading Program

The Amador Water Agency has joined in new technology, which has opened a new world of possibilities in allowing them to offer better customer service and employee efficiency.  Continuing in its efforts to seek innovative ways to save time and money and perform functions more efficiently, the Amador Water Agency is beginning an Automated Meter Reader program. 
According to the Agency's Financial Manager Michael Lee, "The program enables the agencies employees to read water meters automatically from as far as a half-mile away from the meter." The meters do much more than just save agency employees time however, they can also detect leaks, tampering, and customer overuse which in turn allows the Agency a better understanding of what sort of conservation opportunities may work best locally. The benefits of the new technology don't stop there, insurance rates are also reduced as the digital meters provide a safety factor. "The fact that the employees don't have to make manual readings will yield labor savings and efficiency as well as improve employee safety," said Lee. Other Districts, who have implemented similar technology cited benefits such as lower workers' compensation claims, early leak detection and tampering, the ability to identify conservation methods and better efficiency. On the note of benefits, Lee says "The prompt discovery of undetected leaks results in water savings to the Agency, and lower costs for the customer."