Reducing Cost of Water Usage Analysis

Large regional water companies, like California American Water Company, which services the central coast of California, have already invested in high performance flow measurement instrumentation to better understand its usage.

Most Americans receive water service from community water and wastewater utilities. It is less known that private water companies own nearly 16% of the nation’s community water systems. Carmel Riviera Mutual Water Company is one such small rural water company. The company serves up to 600 homes located along California’s beautiful and rugged Big Sur coast. Historically, they estimated annual water loss rate through leaks, waste, evaporation and other losses at around 30% of the total produced. The company budgeted almost $60,000 per year in initiatives to reduce these leaks, including labor and materials for surveys and expensive repairs.

SIERRA’S SOLUTION

In their efforts to expand operational efficiency, Carmel Rivera investigated using Sierra’s InnovaSonic® 207i Clamp-on Ultrasonic Flow Meter. It promised to help determine water-loss percentage, improve production efficiency, improve water quality (reducing back flush) and more accurately identify over-users. The versatility of the clamp-on ultrasonic meter made it a perfect tool for the small, often cash-strapped, water company. Simply clamp the sensors onto the outside of the water pipe and extremely accurate measurement was now possible–no need for costly system shut downs, pipe cutting and plumbing.