Santa Barbara Uses AMI Technology to Cut Waste & Empower Residents

In the face of escalating climate challenges and stringent state regulations, the City of Santa Barbara, California, has taken a proactive stance in water management by implementing an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. Santa Barbara's journey towards more efficient and customer-centric water management showcases the pivotal role of technology in creating meaningful change for water consumption.

Smart decisions early on positioned the project for success

Santa Barbara deployed an AMI system that includes meter transmission units (MTUs) that record water consumption hourly and transmit data daily via a robust radio frequency (RF) network. This setup allows for quick identification of anomalies, including leaks or meter tampering, significantly enhancing the efficiency of water usage monitoring.

Choosing the right technology is key. Santa Barbara set the stage for success by incorporating these elements into their system:

• Utility-Owned RF Network: Operating on a 450 to 470 MHz FCC-licensed radio frequency, this network ensures low-channel noise and high penetration through structures, enhancing reliability.
• Network Redundancy: The design guarantees multiple data paths back to the data collection units and cloud-hosted software, ensuring consistent data collection even during power outages.
• Meter-Agnostic Capability: The system’s compatibility with various meter brands provided flexibility and cost savings in implementation.

A major improvement over manual meter reads

Prior to 2023, Santa Barbara's traditional water meter reading was labor-intensive and error-prone, involving a 10-person team manually reading thousands of meters. This process was not only inefficient but also delayed the detection of leaks, leading to higher water loss and customer dissatisfaction.

By deploying a comprehensive water utility solution from Hubbell, which included Aclara AMI and RF-friendly enclosure lids from Armorcast, the City of Santa Barbara unlocked several game-changing benefits:

• Operational Efficiency: The transition to AMI reduced the water meter reading team from ten to four members, allowing the city to reallocate human resources to preventive maintenance and other critical tasks.
• Customer Empowerment: Through an online portal, customers now access hourly water usage data, enabling them to manage consumption more effectively and detect leaks promptly.
• Enhanced Customer Service: Proactive leak detection and notifications have significantly improved customer service, reducing the costs and inconveniences associated with undetected leaks.
• Cost Savings: Instead of replacing all of the enclosure boxes, Santa Barbara ordered custom-sized lids from Armorcast that were RF-friendly to allow proper signal penetration.
• Reduction in Non-Revenue Water: AMI has improved meter accuracy, reducing apparent losses from unmeasured water flow and data handling errors.
• Foundation for Future Enhancements: The AMI system lays the groundwork for integrating acoustic leak detection technologies, which will further enhance the city’s ability to manage water resources efficiently.

Santa Barbara’s implementation of AMI represents a transformative step in urban water management. The city’s proactive approach not only enhanced operational efficiencies but also significantly improved customer engagement and conservation efforts.

Learn more

Explore Hubbell’s comprehensive water utility solutions, including Aclara AMI and Armorcast enclosures, to find out how they can transform water management in your city.

To learn more about the City of Santa Barbara’s successful AMI deployment, download the full case study below.