The City of Valdosta is working to modernize its aging utility meter system for more than 25,000 accounts. On January 23, 2020, the Valdosta City Council approved a contract with IBT AMI Solutions to provide a new Smart Water Network to help improve operational efficiency, reduce water loss, and increase customer satisfaction.

Starting in late February, there will be contractors working throughout the City changing out water meters. The process is expected to take eighteen months. During this time, customers may experience a period where their water will be off, but it should only be for a short time span. Installation of the new meters will be conducted at no cost to customers.

IBT AMI Solutions has over 46 years of experience in the water industry and in meter reading systems with over 2,000,000 Meter/MTU installations and over 50 successful Customer Information Systems/billing system implementations. IBT AMI Solutions has partnered with Smart Earth Technologies (SET) who is a leader in the cellular AMI technology and Vanguard, a leading meter installations company. IBT AMI Solutions is a distributor of Diehl Metering which is the second largest water meter manufacturer in the world and is a pioneer in ultrasonic water meter technology.

The improved system will allow the City to remotely read meter data on an hourly basis. This will create the ability to track system leaks, reduce meter reading costs, and provide immediate and transparent information to customers.

The installation of new, Diehl ultrasonic water meters alongside Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) from Smart Earth Technologies (SET) will also increase billing accuracy to help support ongoing utility operations and infrastructure investments and to maintain high levels of water service.

In addition to the new infrastructure, Valdosta residents will also receive free access to a web-based Customer Portal from SET. The portal will allow them to see their water consumption in near real-time and set personalized alerts in the event of leaks, possible pipe freezing incidents, and vacation notifications. Money and water saving tips will also be provided to help customers better manage their water consumption.

“The City of Valdosta is excited to offer our customers access to the newest IoT technologies to help them identify household leaks, protect their property, and better manage their water,” said Darryl Muse, Director of Utilities. “Not only will these new investments improve customer service, but they will also help increase efficiency and reduce utility operation costs. Our goal is to then pass these savings on to our customers.

By selecting a cellular AMI network from SET, the City of Valdosta avoids the cost and hassle of building and maintaining a proprietary wireless network. Taking advantage of the newest AT&T 5G network technology, SET provides a highly reliable system with broad coverage and long battery life. Also, the costs of the entire system are paid upfront which allows the City to avoid ongoing expenses related to the operation of the smart water network.