Austin Water To Test Smart Meter System At Various Neighborhoods

AUSTIN, TX — Austin Water will begin a systems testing pilot for My ATX Water: Austin’s Smart Water Meter System, utility officials announced Wednesday.

The pilot includes nearly 5,000 water meters that were chosen to test the system capabilities and tackle challenges across various terrain, aging infrastructure and a variety of dwelling types and meter sizes, officials explained in an advisory.

The systems testing pilot will allow Austin Water to ensure that the technology, connectivity, and data transfer systems are set up and working properly before investing in full implementation of the project. The systems testing pilot includes all, or a portion of, River Place/Glenlake and Long Canyon neighborhoods (about 1,920 meters) and Windsor Park/Mueller neighborhoods (about 2,840 meters).

The Austin City Council approved contracts on March 26, paving the way for Austin Water to modernize its water metering system. Over the next five years, the project will replace more than 230,000 analog water meters with electronically read water meters connected to a wireless network. The project will also develop a customer portal with daily water use data where customers can sign up for customized notifications.

Since 2016, Austin Water staff have evaluated new water metering technologies, known as Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and conducted small-scale pilot projects. “The analysis we’ve done over the past few years has helped Austin Water prepare to implement the best metering and data communication solution for the utility and our customers,” said Rick Coronado, Assistant Director of Operations, Austin Water.

“Austin Water is committed to affordability for our customers and has worked with the Texas Water Development Board to secure low interest loans to fund the majority of the project,” Greg Meszaros, Director, Austin Water, said in a prepared statement. “This project will provide our customers and the utility much more data about water use, allow easier communication with customers through the new customer portal, and will improve billing accuracy. We look forward to bringing this improvement to our customers over the next five years.”

Following the one-year systems testing pilot, meters will be installed throughout the Austin Water service area in phases over four years. Once fully implemented, the project will eliminate the need for manual water meter reading.

Austin Water will notify customers when their installation is scheduled with mailers, door hangers, community engagement opportunities, and other methods. Customers can expect to receive much more information in the coming months.

Learn more about the project at myatxwater.org.

— Austin Water