[미국] 네바다, 스마트 워터 배치 위해 Sensus 기술 채택

'세계에서 가장 큰 작은 도시'로 알려진 미국 네바다주 리노(Nevada Reno)는 카지노로 유명하다. 그러나 도시의 수도시설은 노후되었지만, 지역주민들은 이 노후시설에서 24시간 물을 공급받고 있다. 

트루키 메도우스 워터 어쏘러티(Truckee Meadows Water Authority, TMWA)는 리노(Reno)와 그밖의 와쇼 카운티(Washoe County) 지역에 걸쳐 40만 명 이상의 고객을 보유한 지역사회 소유의 물 공급 업체로서 스마트 워터 기술을 두 배로 늘리고 자동 계량기 데이터 수집 기능을 강화하기로 결정했다.

최근 몇 년간 TMWA의 적용 범위가 확대됨에 따라 수도미터 데이터를 얻는 수동 프로세스가 번거로워졌다. 수자원 당국은 인프라를 업그레이드하고 효율성을 개선하고 고객 서비스를 향상시키기 위해 계량기 교체 프로그램을 시작하기로 결정했다.

심층적인 '제안 요청' 프로세스를 통해 자일럼(Xylem) 브랜드 센서스(Sensus)의 스마트 유틸리티 네트워크를 구축하여 실시간 원격 모니터링 및 관리를 구현했다.

자일럼(Xylem)의 유통 유지 및 생성담당인 팻 닐슨(Pat Nielson) 이사는“다른 네트워크 아키텍처를 테스트하고 현재 Sensus 고객과 대화 한 후 이것이 최상의 솔루션임을 분명히 알 수 있었다"라면서 "이 시스템을 통해 다른 시스템보다 적은 수의 기지국과 액세스 포인트를 의미하는 적은 인프라로 수도미터 전체에서 뛰어난 판독 속도를 달성할 수 있었다"라고 강조했다.

TMWA는 약 11만 개의 엔드 포인트에 스마트 미터가 있는 플렉스넷(FlexNet) 통신 네트워크를 배포하여 자동 미터 모니터링 및 고급 누출 감지를 가능하게 한다. 실시간 데이터에 액세스하면 미터 판독을 위한 트럭 롤을 줄이고 직원의 시간을 보다 효율적으로 사용할 수 있다. 이 시스템은 또한 TMWA의 수자원 보존 프로그램을 향상시켜 팀이 누출을 사전에 식별하고 고객에게 사용에 대해 교육할 수 있도록 한다.

팻 닐슨(Pat Nielson) 이사는“스마트 유틸리티 네트워크의 유연성 덕분에 훨씬 체계적인 방식으로 제품을 출시할 수 있다"라면서 "시스템을 사용하여 고객에게 지속적인 영향을 미치고 지역 수자원의 책임있는 관리자로서의 역할을 강화할 수 있다"라고 강조했다.

TMWA는 유틸리티 및 수자원 고객의 요구에 맞는 일정에 따라 미터 교체를 수행한다. 이 프로젝트는 향후 3∼5년 내에 완료되어야 한다.

[원문보기]

Nevada Utility Selects Sensus Technology For Smart Water Deployment Source: Sensus, a Xylem brand Contact The Supplier

Known as “Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno, Nevada is famous for its casinos. However, the city’s water utility isn’t gambling on outdated systems to deliver around-the-clock service to residents.

As a community-owned water provider with more than 400,000 customers across Reno and the greater Washoe County region, Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) decided to double down on smart water technology and enhance functionality with automated meter data collection.

As TMWA’s coverage area expanded in recent years, their manual process for obtaining meter data became cumbersome. The water authority decided to upgrade their infrastructure and initiate a meter replacement program to improve efficiency and advance customer service.

Through an in-depth ‘request for proposal’ process, they chose to deploy a smart utility network from Sensus, a Xylem brand, to implement real-time remote monitoring and management.

“After testing different network architectures and speaking with current Sensus customers, it was clear that this was the best solution,” said Director of Distribution Maintenance & Generation Pat Nielson. “The system will allow us to achieve outstanding read rates across our water meters with less infrastructure, meaning fewer base stations and access points needed than with other systems.”

TMWA will deploy the FlexNet® communication network with smart meters across approximately 110,000 endpoints to enable automated meter monitoring and advanced leak detection. With access to real-time data, they can reduce truck rolls for meter reads and use staff time more efficiently. The system will also enhance TMWA’s water conservation program, allowing the team to proactively identify leaks and educate customers about their usage.

“Thanks to the flexibility of our smart utility network, we can roll things out in a much more methodical way,” added Nielson. “We’ll be able to use our system to advance in a way that makes a lasting impact for our customers and strengthens our role as responsible stewards of our region's water resources.”

TMWA will conduct meter change-outs on a schedule that fits the needs of the utility and their water customers. The project should be completed within the next three to five years.

■ About Sensus
Sensus helps a wide range of public service providers-from utilities to cities to industrial complexes and campuses-do more with their infrastructure to improve quality of life in their communities. We enable our customers to reach farther through the application of technology and data-driven insights that deliver efficiency and responsiveness.

We partner with them to anticipate and respond to evolving business needs with innovation in sensing and communications technologies, data analytics and services. For more information, visit sensus.com.

■ About Xylem
Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to developing innovative technology solutions to the world’s water challenges. The Company’s products and services move, treat, analyze, monitor and return water to the environment in public utility, industrial, residential and commercial building services settings.

Xylem also provides a leading portfolio of smart metering, network technologies and advanced infrastructure analytics solutions for water, electric and gas utilities. The Company’s approximately 17,000 employees bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on identifying comprehensive, sustainable solutions. Headquartered in Rye Brook, New York, with 2018 revenue of $5.2B, Xylem does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all - that which occurs in nature. For more information, visit www.xylem.com.

■ About TMWA
 Truckee Meadows Water Authority is a not-for-profit water utility, overseen by elected officials from Reno, Sparks and Washoe County. TMWA employs a highly skilled team who ensure the treatment, delivery and availability of high-quality drinking water around the clock for more than 400,000 residents of the Truckee Meadows. For more information, visit tmwa.com.

[출처=워터온라인(https://www.wateronline.com/doc/nevada-utility-selects-sensus-technology-for-smart-water-deployment-0001) / 2019년 11월 21일]