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 • DJB - Delhi • Goa • Bangalore
2008
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