Page last updated on September 7, 2021 at 2:35 pm
For more information, please contact
Vic Kelson, Director of CBU, kelsonv@bloomington.in.gov, 812-349-3650
The Challenge
Every month we get a water bill that states how much water we used (in increments of 1,000 gallons) and how much we owe. If we receive an uncharacteristically high bill, we immediately start to question every usage of water we had for the previous month and begin the hunt for the culprit. So, if you have a leak, you unfortunately don’t know about it until it is too late; either you’ve racked up a high water bill or some part of your home or yard is flooded. What if you could be notified about the leak before the damage was done?
The Idea
The Advanced Metering Initiative gives the power of knowledge to customers of the City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) to understand their water usage in a variety of ways. Primarily, these “smart” meters will allow customers to view their water consumption in real time; predicting their bill and even identifying potential leaks. These meters will give the city and customers new, and previously impossible, features such as remote connection/disconnection and more detailed water usage information. This new technology provides unparalleled insight and control for customers of CBU.
The Cost
This project requires $1.9 million to begin. The city plans to replace all meters for customers and enable additional features as they become available in our evolving smart city. The meters will be installed in sections, starting in west Bloomington and moving to the east.
The Benefit
The Advanced Metering Initiative has wide implications for several aspects of the city. These meters will ultimately save customers money by giving them real time information on their water consumption. For the city, the Advanced Metering Initiative will provide more connectivity for utility services and other city functions, rapidly increase responsiveness to issues, and generate a more thorough understanding of the city’s water usage.
Metadata
City Department(s): City of Bloomington Utilities
City Department Point(s) of Contact: Vic Kelson
Partner(s): n/a
Type of Innovation: Equipment/Mechanical
Date Implemented: 2019