The temperature of the drinking water delivered to a utilities end-customer is becoming increasingly important. Governments and regulators around the world are looking at ways of improving the overall water quality in the drinking water distribution systems by reducing the risk of microbial contamination.

Silver Creek Water’s commitment to reliably track their customers’ water usage has led to their more than 40-year partnership with Sensus, a Xylem brand.

While water utilities are balancing daily operations, they’re also facing wide-ranging challenges that makes strategic planning, funding and technology even more important. Short-term solutions are no longer an option – solution longevity is a priority.

“Everyone in the utility industry helps each other out,” said Ivy. “One of the first groups to call and offer support was Xylem’s Sensus. We’ve been a Sensus customer for 12 years now, and I consider them my friends.”

The largest water utility in New Mexico is on a mission to ensure this kind of water service interruption doesn’t happen. They’re leading the way in continuous improvement by transitioning to smart digital solutions.

After a deadly tornado ripped through Western Kentucky just before the December 2021 holiday season, survivors described the destruction as beyond the scope of imagination. Homes and businesses leveled, vehicles mangled, transmission and distribution lines downed.

It was no ordinary February across the state of Texas. Severe and uncommon winter weather conditions led to a state of emergency. Fortunately, the City of Jacksonville, Texas kept the water flowing for its more than 5,000 residents with the help of its smart utility network from Sensus, a Xylem brand.

While ultrasonic metering technology is not new, it has only recently become cost competitive with mechanical alternatives. Ultrasonic meters also deliver many advantages, including precision, dramatically reduced wear and tear, and compatibility with advanced, smart gas metering infrastructure.

Upgrading to gas Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is a crucial part of digitally transforming a gas or combination utility. It enables these utilities to leverage new efficiencies and opportunities while improving safety and long-term planning.

Transitioning away from a traditional distribution model in a territory covering nearly 400,000 electric and natural gas customers isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. Technology has helped the utility seize the opportunity for new grid controls while ensuring quality and reliability as demand evolves.

From its roots as one of the oldest towns in Washington, the City of Walla Walla has aged like a fine wine. Surrounded by vast vineyards from 120 different wineries, the area is well-known for its rich history, charm and overall appeal. Unlike wine, however, the aging process has hurt some of its infrastructure—including 200 miles of water pipelines.

Located in the heart of Washington State’s Tri-Cities—also known as “Washington Wine Country”—Benton Public Utility District (PUD) serves more than 50,000 customers across Kennewick, Finley, Benton City, Prosser and outlying areas. While residents of this “year-round paradise” are known for a sense of fun and adventure, they want their electric utility to be serious about reliable and efficient service.

India has a water distribution problem, brought about by climate change, rapid industrialization, a growing population and a water supply network that has not kept up with demand. Currently, the water supply is often rationed across different districts by “key turners,” who turn it off for hours a day.

As the foundation is set for smart city applications across the utility industry, the future of managed services seems boundless. With so many utility solution providers jumping on the managed services bandwagon, the key is to ensure utilities are entering into effective and efficient partnerships for successful outcomes.