Originally established in 1983, the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) is responsible for water and wastewater management in Jordan. Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water in the country, with submersible pumps bringing water from wells located 200–300 meters below ground level before passing through water treatment plants and entering the water distribution network.
To conserve and manage the potable water supply in the country, WAJ needs to accurately measure supply and monitor consumption rates throughout the service area. In 2019, the utility was still sending meter readers into the field, sometimes traveling up to 5 hours between points to gather consumption data to bill customers for water usage.
THE CHALLENGE
Outdated equipment made it impossible to ascertain accurate levels of water supply and demand. Upgrades were needed to measure water loss across a vast service area in Jordan. High rates of failure meant that WAJ’s mechanical meters, many of which were installed over 15 years ago, were reaching their end of life and needed to be replaced. Some incidents of water theft further complicated matters and meant getting a clear picture of water resources was difficult.
THE SOLUTION
The project resulted in the installation of battery-powered IP 68 ModMAG® M5000 Electromagnetic flow meters from Badger Meter in wells across the region at well heads at hospitals, schools and farms—historically, locations where high water loss had been recorded. Additionally, each of the meters was equipped with its own GSM battery-powered IP 68 data logger that limits the amount of field time needed to read a meter.
All in all, 187 sites are now being monitored with the new equipment. The data is transmitted back to the utility’s main server in Amman via the 4G network, where it is incorporated into WAJ’s billing software. Alarms automatically alert utility staff with readings of low or no flow, indicating potential theft or meter tampering. Meters are used to measure the production on the utility side and throughout the customer network, or the consumption side; then WAJ compares those numbers to find a water loss rate.
RESULTS
By accurately measuring consumption, the utility has increased the amount of water being billed by three times as much compared to previous years. Improved accuracy resulted in less time spent in the field managing leaks, lowering labor costs and reducing the utility’s carbon footprint. With the new meters in place, WAJ has saved on labor and fuel costs, with meter reads that are collected automatically, rather than having a technician drive to each location and get the reading. The new technology has also helped WAJ lower its carbon footprint, with less vehicle patrolling required to read the meters.
– Hazem Fakhouri, Managing Director, Reetaj TechnologiesBilling revenue has increased three-fold, and utility staff can see real data that reflects a reliable picture of system strength and water supply
