Modernizing North Battleford’s utility operations

Aging water infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges facing the water sector today. The American Water Works Association ranks it as a top concern, and for good reason - outdated systems can lead to inefficiencies, water loss, and frustrated customers.

The City of North Battleford in Saskatchewan, Canada, found themselves facing this challenge. Their outdated water metering system was no longer up to the task.

"We needed to modernize our technology for the 21st century," explained Stewart Schafer, director of operations for the city. "At one point, we tried to estimate our water losses, and our old system was so inaccurate that it showed we were charging for more water than we were producing at the plants."

To address the issue, North Battleford invested in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), including smart water meters and the Sensus FlexNet® communication network. The upgrade was a game-changer.

Using real-time data from the new system, the city's utility team can now proactively detect leaks and send immediate alerts to customers, which results in less wasted water, faster problem resolution, and happier customers.

"You don't think about water until it is a problem," said Schafer. "This advanced technology shows people how they are using water and can proactively inform them of a small leak before it becomes a bigger problem."

Solving residential water loss

The benefits of North Battleford's modernization were clear from the start. Jeff Blanchard, Assistant Director of Operations, shared two powerful examples.

A local store installed low-flow fixtures, but a faulty sensor caused one to leak 1.7 cubic meters of water per hour. The smart meters quickly detected the unusual usage, allowing the store to fix the problem and avoid excessive water charges.

An elderly homeowner had a flapper valve in her basement toilet that didn't seal properly, causing water to run continuously for 24 hours. Thanks to a consumption alert, she was notified and able to take action to stop the leak.

Both cases highlight how real-time monitoring, and proactive notifications save customers in the North Battleford community money and conserve water.

"We've achieved remarkable results through proactive leak notifications," said Blanchard. "We can now alert our customers of leaks within 24 hours that would have previously gone unnoticed for months."

Smart and sustainable utility operations

The benefits extend beyond customer service. North Battleford's utility operations are now more efficient, thanks to the ally® residential water meter and remote service capabilities. Tasks like shutoffs and reconnects can be handled remotely, saving the utility team valuable time - roughly $125,000 CAD annually in staff costs.

The environmental impact is significant, too. Fewer trips for field crews mean lower fuel consumption and reduced carbon emissions, aligning with the city's sustainability goals.

North Battleford's investment in smart water technology is more than just an upgrade - it's a blueprint for how communities can modernize water systems, save resources, and deliver exceptional service to customers.

To learn more about how the FlexNet® communication network empowers utilities to securely transmit and leverage customer usage data, watch below:

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.