Water Meter Reading

As droughts, competing water usage interests and escalating populations convert water into an increasingly significant commodity around the world, the spotlight is turning upon the importance of accurate and timely water meter reading processes.

Now that water companies in the United Kingdom have been given the go-ahead to raise household bills, the issue of water meter reading is likely to become a hot topic as consumer watchdogs maintain a gimlet eye on the water meter reading and billing process. While the sharemarket surged in sales of water company shares at the news, there is also the likelihood of a surge in interest in water meter reading technologies such as AMR.

Across the other side of the world, in Sydney, water meter reading will form the foundation of infrastructural recommendations outlined in that city's 25 year plan for sustainable water use. The recommendations include efficient water use along with the promotion of innovation, an increase in the efficient use of water and optimising existing infrastructures - all of which water meter reading technologies promote.

Fortunately, technologies such as automatic water meter reading via GSM/GPRS and Internet protocols are ready for a swirling marketplace, and applications such as DataCol's Seven X end to end integrated data collection solutions are available. These can manage the data of dedicated water meter reading companies, or contract meter reading service companies that can include water meter reading as one of their services for multiple utilities or commodities.

In our experience, water utility companies benefit most from the positive response of customers towards improved water meter reading practices. New technologies ensure water meter reading systems can prepare bills based on actual usage, rather than estimates.

To find out more about how DataCol can promote better water meter reading practices, particularly through its world-leading Seven X H2O application, contact us now.