Water service interruptions can be frustrating. In the dry desert heat of Albuquerque, they are significant. The largest water utility in New Mexico is working to mitigate risks for its customers by taking a proactive approach to water service.
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority has taken steps to ensure consistent water flow at its customers’ homes and businesses. Its mission is to detect and address any issue before the customer even reports it; which they are able to achieve using smart digital solutions.
The water authority began deploying advanced metering infrastructure from Sensus, a Xylem brand, in 2011. Since then, the group has prioritized the greater integration of smart water technology into its operations.
“The goal is to install 25,000 to 30,000 endpoints each year so that our entire system will rely fully on advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) within three to four years,” says Joel Berman, chief engineer of the water authority.
Accessible Pressure Data
When it comes to water pressure management, being proactive is key.
“We keep our customers happy by remotely monitoring their water consumption and pressure to ensure any potential issues are identified before they experience them,” says Berman.
The Sensus ally® residential water meters feed pressure data into a cloud-hosted software application, the Sensus Analytics Pressure Profile.
“This technology has taken many steps out of our typical pressure management process, including administrative tasks and truck rolls,” says Patrick Bayardo, an operations and maintenance superintendent at the water authority. “Now, we simply log in to the website in the morning and the data is right at our fingertips. It’s a big time saver for us.”
The application integrates with the FlexNet® communication network to collect data from the smart meters and display it in map-based graphs that show activity throughout pressure zones. Utility personnel can monitor this activity remotely on their computers and receive alerts when pressure deviations occur, allowing them to initiate a quick investigation and response.
“A customer noticed his new irrigation system was experiencing lower pressure than usual and just stopped working,” says Berman. “Using Pressure Profile, we were able to identify, resolve, and restore the system pressure quickly — in only a matter of hours. The customer was grateful, and it was a positive experience for everyone involved.”
The water authority also added the battery-powered Sensus® Smart Gateway Sensor Interface at pressure-reducing valve sites to monitor water distribution system performance. The sensors, smart meters, and Pressure Profile work together with the FlexNet system to monitor pressure spikes and locate the origination issues.
“We discovered an open valve — not mapped on our system — that was overpressurizing pressure from one zone to another,” says Bayardo. “Pressure Profile brings us the data we need in the timeframe we need it to troubleshoot and optimize each pressure zone for optimal performance.”
Quick Data Enables Proactivity
Shifting from a “boots-on-the-ground” approach to digital technology where data is readily available on employees’ computers has limited the number of customer service calls and routine maintenance activities for the Water Authority.
“Now we can pinpoint areas and resolve potential water pressure issues within hours in what used to take weeks,” says Bayardo.
Looking to the Future
Living in the desert heat is a constant reminder that water is an essential resource for all. Albuquerque’s water authority has embraced digital innovation to further strengthen its commitment to timely customer service and operational efficiency.
“I’m proud to say that, in the last decade, we’ve collectively transitioned from being reactive to highly proactive with regard to water distribution pressures,” Berman says. “These days, if we don’t identify an issue before the customer, something is wrong. It’s not just about monitoring the pressure; it’s about changing the way we do business.”
While the water authority has already evolved to proactively serve its customers, it is still committed to continuous improvement of the water distribution system. The water authority has plans to dig deeper into its advanced pressure management data for hydraulic model verification to further improve both water loss and quality. Step by step, these changes will impact the community’s quality of life. WW
About the Author: Joseph Dryer is a product manager of utility solutions with Sensus, a Xylem brand. He has been in the industry for six years and is passionate about building solutions that help utilities overcome their most pressing challenges. Dryer is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a major in mechanical engineering and holds a Master of Science degree in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
Published in WaterWorld magazine, November 2022.
