NEW ROCHELLE, NY — SUEZ (formerly United Water Westchester) received the 2015 Advancement Award from the Westchester Water Works Conference. The award was presented to the company for the success of its District Metered Area program, which utilizes advanced technology to identify and reduce leaks in water mains.
The pioneering initiative harnessed the technology of the SUEZ computer program, Aquadvanced, to strategically divide the Westchester water distribution system into smaller and more easily managed District Metered Areas (DMAs). The creation of the 19 DMAs enables the early detection and repair of underground leaks which are not yet visible. This helps to prevent main breaks and service interruptions. In addition, the implementation of DMAs resulted in a significant decrease in non-revenue water (water lost through leaks, theft or metering inaccuracies) and costs associated with purchased water. The technology also increased compliance with regulatory standards for non-revenue water.
“This is an example of how the power of technology can be harnessed to better our water systems,” said Lynda DiMenna, who manages the company’s operations in Westchester County. Since its implementation, the program has identified numerous leaks across the water system and reduced annual production by over 500 million gallons per year, resulting in over $1 million in annual purchased water savings. The total savings are expected to increase year-over-year as the program continues.
“Our team is honored to have received such a prestigious award from the Westchester Water Works Conference,” said DiMenna. “We are proud to spearhead an initiative that allows for more precise, cost-effective and responsible water management.” She noted that the program operates by comparing estimated and actual water usage from each of the 19 districts created by the initiative. When real figures do not align with the levels of expected usage, engineers are able to quickly locate and fix the leak or identify possible theft of service. Through this efficient identification system, monitored DMAs successfully:
Increased regulatory compliance
Reduced non-revenue water (lost through leaks, theft or metering inaccuracies), and
Supported environmental sustainability and conservation within the Westchester region
“Our company is committed to creating advanced solutions that enhance how it manages the water supply,” said Chris Graziano, general manager of the SUEZ Water New York Division. “We appreciate this recognition from the Westchester Water Works Conference for our efforts in this area, and will continue to explore the latest technologies to create highly effective and sustainable water systems.”