Getting Smarter with Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Dave Hughes American Water

Bentley Be Conference May 19, 2010

AMI for Water Utilities Best Practices for Selection, Acquisition & Implementation

American Water

Largest investor-owned
water services provider in North America

 Serves 16.2 million

people

 Operations in 32 states
and Canada

 7,000 employees 308 individual service

areas
Utility Only O&M Only Both

71,500 km (45,000 miles)

of distribution mains

Presentation Outline
AMI Terminology and How AMI Works AMI and Improving Water System Operations AMI and Improving Hydraulic Models AMI Fostering a Fit Between Operations & Models

AMR/AMI Terminology
AMR - automated process that collects readings from customers meters without directly accessing the meter and can export reads to a remote central location AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) automated process that collects readings and other data, typically without going to the meter site, often two way communication to facilitate data transfer

Ancillary devices
Actuators - using the AMI communication network to operate equipment (e.g., customer shut-off valves) Sensors using AMI communication to process information from monitors other than meters (e.g., leak detectors)

Intelligent meters Reading devices with internal data storage/analysis capabilities to provide information/alerts to supersede or supplement readings Interval Reads - providing multiple period water usage data at predetermined or remotely configurable time intervals with individual collection transmissions

Advanced Metering Infrastructure

First Hop (LAN)
Com Link 1

Backhaul (WAN)
Data Coll. Unit

MIU

Repeater

Com Link 2

Receiver Application Software Hardware

Transponder Intelligent CPU, Memory Encoder Meter

Transponder Encoder Other Sensor Actuator

CIS Other Systems

Host Controller

Meter Data Management System (Database)

Mesh Network Architecture and Speed

Modified or partial Mesh Network
MIU MIU DCU MIU MIU MIU MIU MIU DCU MIU MIU MIU MIU DCU MIU MIU MIU MIU Collector/ Gateway MIU DCU

Full Mesh Network

MIU

Improving Water System Operations

Meter selection and accuracy Non Revenue Water Evaluation (DMA) System Leak Monitoring System Backflow Water Quality Monitoring

Fixed Network Radio AMI Requirements

Two way communication with MIU Synchronized time Programmable MIU units Battery Power! Smart Mesh
Photo courtesy Itron Photos courtesy Sensus

Photo courtesy Aclara

Meter Age/Registration Change

How long should meters be left in service? Most meters last a long time, only a few fail Function of: meter cost, installation cost, cost of water (& WW), volume passed, inflation rates, discount rate, rate of accuracy decline

100 80 Accuracy y = -0.2654x + 101.15 60 40 20 0 0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00 20.00 Yrs in Service

25.00

30.00

(Data courtesy Kansas City Water Services Dept.)

Large Meter Replacement Doubled Total Registration

350.0 300.0 Pre-Exchange Actual ADC Post-Exchange ADC 200.0 150.0 100.0

250.0

50.0 0.0
1 3 5 7 9 11
Data 15 13 courtesy San Diego Water Department 27 17 19 21 23 25

29

31

33

35

37

39

41

43

AMI Can Support Large Meter Management

Right-sizing analysis Right-typing analysis Flow profile
(depends on time interval)
30,000 low flow 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 high flow

3/ 2/ 20 09 3/ 3/ 20 09 3/ 4/ 20 09 3/ 5/ 20 09 3/ 6/ 20 09 3/ 7/ 20 09 3/ 8/ 20 09 3/ 9/ 20 09 3/ 10 /2 00 9 3/ 11 /2 00 9 3/ 12 /2 00 9 3/ 13 /2 00 9

District Metering
Areas of the system receive water supply from limited, metered mains. When metered use (overnight flow) is unusually high, that DMA is targeted for a leak survey.
Districts allow leak survey teams to focus on problem areas. District metering promotes step testing to find leaks. District metering quantifies leak for water audit analysis.

AMI Can Help Track and Identify NonNon-Revenue Water

Controllable NRW constant level suggests source is leakage NRW NRW
Variable NRW level suggests source is meter error or theft

Supply to system

Supply to system

Metered Usage Metered Usage

Sensors Expand AMI Applicability

Distribution system leak detection Conservation Backflow detection Automatic shutoff Pressure sensors

Using AMI for Continuous Acoustic Monitoring (CAM)

Acoustic monitoring interfaces to AMI systems to provide routine leak detection
FCS Permalog attaches to valve nut in street, transmits separately from meters Gutermann Zone Scan units attach to valve nut, transmitter housed in valve box. Developing remote correlation capability. Itron MLOG units attach to service line

Find small leaks sooner, when they are easier to repair and can be scheduled Reduce crews or improve service level

MLOG Acoustic Monitor

Installed near a water meter. Easily strapped to service pipe or meter Maintenance-free, now able to survive meter pit environment. Battery Life Radio MLOG 8 years and Fixed Network 15 years. Fixed Network AMR sends data to host on website daily. Mobile Units, a separate controller unit acquires up to 11 days of history.

Permalog Acoustic Monitor

Installed on operating nut of water valves. Magnetic bottom secures unit Newer model more robust for valve box environment Battery Life 510 years Unit sends leak or no leak condition through to network, Datamatic will send data For Mobile Units, a separate controller unit acquires data

StarZoneScan Acoustic Monitor

Installed on operating nut of water valves. Magnetic bottom secures unit Connects directly to AMR Transmitter in valve box Battery Life 10 years Fixed Network AMR sends condition through network Zone Scans to be used to correlate leaks.

Fixed Network & CAM

Data Collector Units CAM SOFTWARE
Acoustic (leak) Data

Meter Reads, Meter Status

Billing Meter reads

Meter Transmitter Units

Acoustic (leak) Data

Billing, and recent Meter reads Selected Reports Selected Meter reads

MLOG
Water Meter Water Meter Water Meter

American Water Computer

Schematic courtesy of Hexagram

The Meter/AMR/AMI/Acoustic Monitoring Relationship Maze

Meters Network AMI Acoustic Monitors

Aclara

Neptune
Neptune

Gutermann
Itron Mueller Systems

Badger Actaris Elster Sensus

Mueller Systems

Itron MLOG Itron 2nd generation Metrotech Permalog Echologics

Metron Farnier Datamatic Badger Elster Sensus KP Electronics

Using Acoustic Monitors

Deploy units about every block. Leaks are detected usually up to 400 feet (some systems 1000 feet). Leak sound does dissipate over distance especially where pipe materials changes from metal to plastic and back. User detection skills improve with experience. In time, history and knowledge of background noise sources helps discern between leak and other noise. Pinpointing leaks normally accomplished by one technician and leak noise correlator in between 30-90 minutes. Correlators can be compromised by daytime noise. Mixed results from overnight correlation units.

How Continuous Acoustic Monitoring Works

Monitor listens and identifies the minimum sound in intervals in early morning hours. The single nightly data point broken down into frequencies associated with leak noise and shows the leak noise frequencies . The monitor reports on highest differential between lowest noise displayed and highest overnight sound. The software interprets changes and magnitude of sounds to rate the location as a possible source of a leak.

Continuous Leak Survey Data

There is a typical brief initial noise peak as leaking pipe smoothes and moves soil away from pipe

The software displays a history showing the noise level at each day.

Find the Leak that Never Surfaces

This leak was destined to flow to the nearby river or into the storm sewer above without coming to the surface for years. Found by acoustic monitoring

Initial Results 2005

487 MLOG leak detecting sensors were installed in Connellsville in Spring 2005. From June to December 2005 46 leaks were reported in Connellsville (18 in 2003, 12 in 2004). 24 of the 46 leaks were identified by acoustic monitors and repaired in advance of surfacing. Another 10 were MLOG identified before surfacing but appeared before repair made. The remaining 12 surfaced and were repaired. With the reduction of blowoff flow and leaks, flow is consistently down about 255,000-285,000 gpd in 2006.

NRW Volume Connellsville, 2006

140 an n u al fl o w (g p m ) o f d etecte d l eak s 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1/1/2006 4/1/2006 7/1/2006 10/1/2006

NRW volume 12 month average

Piloting Results Connellsville 2005-2008 2005200 leaks occurred during period of which 154 detectable. Undetectable leaks largely due to sudden breaks. Of the 154 leaks, 64 (42%) were detected and repaired before surfacing and 31 (20%) were detected acoustically but surfaced before repairs were made. The major cause for not detecting overnight leaks (38%) is believed to be the use of plastic and repair clamps for ferrous pipe main repairs that lessen leak noise transmission.

Evaluating the Benefits/Costs of AMIAMI-Based CAM

Significant leakage and non-revenue water?
Minimal payback if there are few leaks to find

What kind of leakage?

Acoustic monitoring best at finding hidden leakage

How much are leaks costing?

Beneficial if your water is expensive and/or scarce.

Staff/crews available to pinpoint, repair promptly?

MOBILE AMR/MLOG Reduction
25.0%

20.0%

15.0%

10.0% NRW change from MOBILE AMR 5.0% NRW change from FIXED NETWORK AMR 0.0%

0. 0%

3. 0%

6. 0%

9. 0% 12 .0 % 15 .0 % 18 .0 % 21 .0 % 24 .0 % 27 .0 % 30 .0 % 33 .0 % 36 .0 % 39 .0 % 42 .0 % 45 .0 % 48 .0 %

INCREMENTAL Benefit/Cost of AMI Acoustic Leak Detection

Direct Benefits Improved reduction in water losses Reduction in leak detection staffing and equipment Direct Costs Sensors, installation Additional leak detection crews Ongoing sensor repair, replacement Computer, software Indirect Benefits Improved reduction in risk/cost of major failures Unit repairs less costly Extended life of mains Better perception of system reliability Better understanding of replacement needs Indirect Costs Additional cost of digging up mains Additional cost of main and service repairs

Backflow Alerts
Water running backwards is a sign of poor operation, emergency or improper customer activity Intelligent meters are capturing backflow alarms internally The WaterRF project demonstrated the feasibility of direct alarms to alert operators of system problems Backflow alerts also provided indication of meter issue.

Sample data

Field Test Results PA system

Installed 60 backflow meters out of 5000 meters locations strategically selected Found 13 instances of backflow in one year from six locations 24 instances, 11 locations in 2 years Some patterns from main breaks Several locations suggest pump surge issues and warrant further investigation

Other Monitoring applications

Continuous Water Pressure Monitoring
Useful method to calibrate hydraulic model or spot system anomalies Unexpected low pressure during high flow periods suggests unexpected demand (theft?) or poor hydraulic conditions (low C factors or closed valves) Unexpected low pressure during all flow conditions suggests leakage. Could place on hydrants and equip with alarms to spot authorized and unauthorized hydrant use

Other Monitoring applications

Water Temperature Monitoring
Changes in temperature (associated with surface water supplies in temperate climates) may be a trigger for water main failures Abnormal changes in temperature may indicate higher flow into an area or water quality issue.

Water Quality Monitoring and Drinking Water Security

Monitoring as a precaution to threats
Intentional:
Physical - (i.e. arson, cyber-attack, sabotage, terrorism, vandalism) Psychological - (i.e. hoaxes, incitement of panic, misinformation)

Unintentional:
Intrinsic system failure- Computer and system component failures Cascading effect failures- Source water contamination from chemical spills, power loss Early warning could avoid or mitigate impact of such attacks

Deploying Water Quality Monitors

What parameters to monitor Types of monitors Contaminant detection, communications & reliability

On-line data management (alarms) Selecting sites for sensor deployment Cost estimates for sensor deployment

MultiMulti-parameter Water Quality Monitors Probe Systems

Sensor Reliability
100 90 Percent Adjustment 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Temp SC Chlorine pH ORP DO Turbidity
(212,846) (212,778)(110,135) (212,846) (150,468)(132,308) (132,308)
Uncorrected Corrected (5%-25%) Deleted (>25%)

Sensor (number of measurements)

Making Sense of Sensors

Determining anomalies (alarms) from WQ data:
Need to identify baseline water quality information & understand sensitivity Have sound sensor QC to determine performance issues Ascertain impact of environmental parameters on baseline or operational

Define degree of deviations from baseline that would constitute an alarm

Sensor Location
Cost of Units forces optimization
Contaminant concentration Injection site Duration (or rate) of injection Exposure
All non-zero demand nodes assumed to be equally vulnerable to introduction of the biological or chemical contaminants. Time delay from detection to implementation of a mitigation response assumed to be zero.

Practical Locations Optimal Locations

Actuators: Remote Shutoff Valves

Can be operated by fixed network and mobile AMI Open, closed and trickle position Self-exercising Issues with installation, regulations, cost.

Shutoff Valve Economics

WATER METER WATER VALVE

High cost to install throughout a system

Units are expensive Risk of vandalism Cost to adjust plumbing Control units have cost Where is the payback
WATER METER WATER VALVE

PORTABLE UNIT

WATER METER

WATER VALVE

TRANSCEIVER

WATER METER

Potentially useful for property transfers, vacation properties, collections, multiple feed customers.

WATER VALVE

PORTABLE TRANSCEIVER

I - PHONE

AMI Can Improve Hydraulic Models

Demand analysis Pressure Monitoring

AMI Fostering the Merger of Model & Ops

System Anamolies

Hydraulic Models and Demand

Customer accounts can be assigned by code to nodes in model and hourly interval data can be derived by AMI and incorporated
Average day Peak day Variations for temperature/season

Use in a neighborhood can be assigned for projecting growth

Pressure Monitoring
System pressures can be gathered from field monitors to find anomalies.
Low pressure regardless of demand suggests continuous flow (leakage) Low pressure that follows high demand suggests closed valves, lower C valves in pipes Sudden drops in pressures at some sites (like hydrants may help identify illegal water use

Ultimate Modeling
Pressure and use can follow predictable patterns depending on day of week, temperature and recent precipitation. Imagine dialing into model these parameters and obtaining predicted levels of pressure and flow and comparing to field data. Sudden deviations from model can be used to track leaks, maintenance activities (flushing) and other unusual events. Impacts of new mains, pump changes can be evaluated and model recalibrated.

Questions
Dave Hughes david.hughes@amwater.com 856 346 8320

AMR/AMI Technology Risk Management

Technical obsolescence Lack of standards Lack of interoperability Application and third party software Battery life Excessive failure rates; system failures, product recalls Radio frequency incursion Programming errors