The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has announced a WaterSMART grant award to the City of Oceanside for $1.5 million for the City’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project (Phase II).
The $4.5 million project will replace over 11,000 existing water meters to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) smart meters. This infrastructure upgrade is expected to save 784 acre-feet of water annually. Water savings from this project will help alleviate concerns of water shortages during drought and reliance on imported water. Currently, the City imports approximately 85% of its drinking water from the Sacramento Bay Delta and the Colorado River, which are hundreds of miles away. The City’s AMI project will also provide real-time information to customers about unusual consumption patterns such as those associated with leaks and breaks.
“The implementation of advanced metering infrastructure will allow Oceanside to provide increased efficiency and upgraded services to the City’s water customers,” said Rosemarie Chora, Water Utilities Division Manager.
“Automation will allow information to be available in real time, enabling customers to better manage their water needs.”
The WaterSMART Program, administered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, provides water and energy efficiency grants to water districts and communities to modernize water delivery infrastructure and increase hydropower generation. These grants are meant to enable communities to conserve and use water more efficiently, and contribute to water supply reliability in the western United States.
“The City of Oceanside is proud embark on this valuable and complex project to provide enhanced customer service, real-time water data, and opportunities for customers to engage with our customer portal to best understand water-use habits,” said Cari Dale, Water Utilities Director, City of Oceanside. “AMI allows for greater operational flexibility for the utility, and greater knowledge and control for our customers.”
