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WaterSmart & AMI

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Enhancing the Customer Experience

image of watersmart portal on laptop and phone

WaterSmart is putting more data in your hands to better control your bill - don't delay, sign up today! The City’s exciting new online customer water use portal, WaterSmart, provides City water customers with the ability to track hourly water use, receive leak alerts, compare usage to similar households, and receive recommendations on how to reduce water use. The new WaterSmart portal is part of the City’s investment in a system of automated metering infrastructure (AMI), communication networks, and software that collects hourly water use over a secure, wireless network and makes that information available to customers much quicker than before – providing more customer control.

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How AMI Works Customer Benefits AMI Project Background

The Meter – Existing water meters are connected to an AMI radio device.

The Communications Network – The radio device connected to the meter delivers usage information securely over a radio network to the City.

The Water Utility Office – The City uses the meter readings and alerts to support monthly billing and respond quicker to service disruptions.

The Customer – Access to the online customer portal, WaterSmart, allows customers to view and monitor hourly water use, leak alerts, and make more informed decisions regarding conservation efforts.

Enhanced Customer Service & Convenience: Hourly water meter readings and daily updates allow the City to address customer concerns quicker and answer questions more effectively with the increased insight that WaterSmart provides.

Customizable Email and Text Alerts: Early leak notification is a major benefit of Santa Barbara's metering system and customer portal -- customers can now receive information about their hourly water use and alerts for continuous water use, unusually high use, and more, before their bill is generated. Tailored notifications can be created for high bills or unplanned use. The data and information provided to customers through automated metering infrastructure (AMI) also helps to increase general awareness about water use and promote efficiency.

Automated metering infrastructure (AMI) is a system of meters, communication networks, and software that transfers water use information and service alerts over a secure, wireless network to a central database. This information is used to prepare water bills, analyze water use trends, provide customers with hourly water use information, and notify customers of potential leaks.

This project began in 2014 with the Water Meter Replacement Program, in which all of the City’s water meters were replaced with new, AMI compatible meters. Next, the City installed radio transmitting devices on the existing meters and data collection points at several locations throughout the City's water service area. This infrastructure enables the City to automatically deliver hourly meter reading information back to the City’s systems through a safe and secure signal. This system is similar to the gas and electric AMI meters in use in our community. Additionally, this project includes online access for water customers to understand and manage their water usage data on a regular basis through the online customer portal, WaterSmart.

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What is automated metering infrastructure (AMI)?

Automated metering infrastructure (also called advanced metering infrastructure) is a system of meters, communication networks, and software that transfers water usage information and service alerts over a secure, wireless network to a central database. This information is used to prepare water bills, analyze water usage trends, provide customers with hourly water usage information, and notify customers of potential leaks.

How will AMI improve my water service?

The AMI project will enhance the City’s ability to provide you with safe and reliable water service through upgraded water metering technology. AMI will allow the City to provide timely responses to service issues and grant you access to hourly water usage information, alerts, and tools to make more informed decisions about your water usage. Rather than your meter being read monthly by City staff coming to the meter box, it will be read wirelessly every day via a radio device and receiver and the usage data will be available to you daily via our new customer portal.

What is the difference between AMI and the Flume device?

The City’s AMI system is City-wide, will provide hourly water usage data, and will transmit once a day. The City will install and maintain all AMI infrastructure. Water meter readings captured through the AMI system will be used for water billing.

Flume is essentially a personal AMI for your home. The Flume device is installed by the customer, uses your Wi-Fi connection, and will occasionally require you to change the battery. Your Flume will give you quicker info (real time) as well as more granular data (usage every minute). The City does not use Flume data for water billing purposes. Having a Flume will not interfere with the AMI system, and vice versa. Both have great features for providing leak notification and understanding water use patterns.

Flume Rebate

Are the water meter radio devices safe?

Yes. The radio devices, which are attached to the meters and transfer the service data, do not exceed health and safety standards set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for energy emission levels. The energy exposure from an automated meter’s radio signal or radio frequency (RF) is significantly less than common household devices, including cell phones, laptops, microwaves, baby monitors and internet routers. It is also important to understand that automated meters only transmit signals four times a day for less than a fraction of a second each time, unlike household devices that often transmit continuously, such as those in the image below. The radio devices will not interfere with home appliances or other electronics.