CHALLENGES IN WATER MANAGEMENT FOR POWER AND

INDUSTRIAL DEMAND

AUTOMATED METER READING FOR INDUSTRIAL WATER SUPPLY

GOPAN C K, DR. JACOB CHANDAPILLAI

FLUID CONTROL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PALAKKAD, KERALA.

Introduction

• Water Metering

• Automated Meter Reading (AMR)

• Smart Meters

• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

Stand-alone Metering

• Mechanical meters

• Electronic meters

Issues:• Meter reading

• Manual billing

• Leakage & Tampering

Automated Meter Reading

• Consumption data• diagnostic, and status data

CENTRAL DATABASE • Billing

• Troubleshooting• Analyzing

Automated Meter Reading

o Touch based AMR (on-site AMR)

o Radio frequency network• Handheld• Walk/drive by system• Fixed Network

o GSM based AMR• Data transmission via

GSM modem & network

Receiver

Receiver

AMR Advantages:

• Eliminates manual error in reading and billing

• Avoid estimates/ flat billing

• Close monitoring of water supply

• Increased customer service

• Help identify and pinpoint leak

• Help detect tampering

• More efficient billing

Issues with AMR

• High AMR cost

• Theft – metal parts

• High maintenance cost

• Imported technology

Projects in India

• MCGM – Mumbai 2008

• DJB - Delhi

• Goa

• Bangalore

Indian Scenario - Is it time for domestic AMR ???

• 44 % Non revenue Water (Min. of Urban Development)

• up to 75% connections are not metered in some cities.

• Low domestic tariff in both urban & rural areas

• Few cities does not bill residential users

• Water charges could recover only 60 % of operating & maintenance cost

Large scope of improvement in:• water management practices.

• water legislation

• efficiency in water use

• Infrastructure

• water conservation

Indian Scenario - Is it time for domestic AMR ???

• Do we really need to monitor domestic water supply in India very closely at a

very high cost?

• Whether the return justify the higher cost?

o Select the areas where return is more and require less investment.

o Focus on industrial connections, bulk meters on supply main of apartment

complexes.

Domestic Vs Industrial supply

• Industries – Less no. of connections

– water consumption is almost double

– More revenue

• Domestic – more consumers

– Low tariff

– Less revenue

SAME AMR cost, MORE revenue in industrial connections.

Conclusion

• Return does not justify project cost in case of domestic

consumers.

• AMR can be implemented for industrial and commercial

consumers.

• A pilot project may be conducted before large scale

implementation.

Thank You