Badger Meter: Solutions for the Complete Water Cycle

Building upon strong leadership in smart metering, the company’s growth brings water quality and pressure management tools together so customers can better manage assets, achieve customer satisfaction and enhance revenue capture.

Badger Meter has been an innovator in flow measurement for more than 115 years, serving water utilities, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers worldwide with an emphasis on metering, measurement, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and Network as a Service (NaaS). The company has recently added s::can, ATi, Syrinix and Telog to the family, building its portfolio of smart water solutions and moving beyond the meter.

With end-to-end solutions ranging from mechanical, ultrasonic and electromagnetic flow meters, to proven meter-reading technologies and powerful analytics software, intelligent measurement is at the heart of the company’s full range of water quality, distribution and analytical monitoring capabilities, bolstered by reliable communications via a cellular network.

Beyond Meter to Cash
Products include the E-Series® Ultrasonic meters for residential and commercial smart water meter applications. These meters use solid-state technology in a compact, totally encapsulated, weatherproof and UV-resistant housing, and feature an easy-to-read, 9-digit LCD display. Coupled with ORION® Cellular endpoints, which use existing cellular infrastructure to efficiently and securely transmit two-way communication of meter reading data, utility operators can access more information than ever at their fingertips. This data lives in BEACON® Software as a Service (SaaS) to provide visibility, control and optimized information for utilities of all sizes.

When combined with information from sensors throughout the water system, data collected provides robust pressure management, leak detection and alerts, network condition assessment and enhanced operational insights for customers. 

Intelligence Unlocked
Now utility operators can also extract more insights from their network by viewing pressure alongside their smart metering deployment with real-time data visibility that can be leveraged to reduce water loss and proactively calm networks.

From standalone, high-frequency pressure monitoring with PIPEMINDER pressure monitors to the wireless, battery-powered, multichannel pressure, flow, valve and meter monitoring capabilities of the Telog Ru-32imA, pressure management is easy with Badger Meter. Monitors can be deployed at critical points throughout the network to provide tailored insights and moved or redeployed as needed for optimal asset monitoring. Multi-layered data can be transferred to a platform of choice, including industry-leading BEACON SaaS, RADAR or Unity—all managed by Badger Meter.

“Future-proof strategies utilize smart technologies, enabling a shift from reactive practices to proactive solutions based on real-time data,” said Matt Stuyvenberg, Vice President of Software and Water Quality at Badger Meter.

Water Quality When—and Where—You Need It
Today’s solutions even make it possible for distributed water quality monitoring to exist alongside metering and AMI systems for a holistic network view—no matter the size or location of the utility. Real-time, reagent-free pipe::scan and MetriNet solutions enable water quality to move out of the lab and into the critical points of the network.

For monitoring drinking water quality in pipes under pressure, pipe::scan modular sensor systems measure up to 10 parameters in one device: TOC, DOC, UV254, turbidity, color, chlorine, pH/redox, conductivity, temperature and pressure—all without the maintenance, chemicals and bypass streams associated with traditional solutions. Water quality data can be securely sent to BEACON to be viewed alongside data transmitted from cellular endpoints in the network. Multiple pipe::scan units are the ideal solution to monitor drinking water at any point in the distribution network. In addition, the ability to interface with SCADA and other central databases via almost any protocol makes this information actionable for utilities of every size.

An even lower-power, modular system for monitoring water quality at remote locations, MetriNet offers continuous data collection from anywhere in a distribution network. To provide insights where previously thought unattainable, smart digital sensor technology is leveraged for proactive water quality management.

“While monitoring stations won’t completely replace the lab, a network of low-powered, inline, online and reagent-free solutions can be deployed in the field at critical locations, shifting to more informed decision-making and providing evidence-based proof of water safety,” Stuyvenberg said. “Why wait for days to collect, transport, analyze and receive your results when you can see the data in real time without missing events that spot checks may have missed?”

Reliable Data Delivers Value
Badger Meter launched the first ORION® Cellular endpoints in 2013.  An evolution in AMI technology, these endpoints deliver efficient and secure two-way communication of high-resolution data.

“As we look to move beyond AMI into a world of intelligent measurement, reliable communications and actionable data are key,” said Matt Stuyvenberg, Vice President of Software & Water Quality at Badger Meter. “This is not data for the sake of data collection. Our solutions turn data into insights, which is where the real value is realized.” 

Communication and software technologies enable users to benefit from robust digital solutions that turn data into actionable insights, leading to better outcomes and modifying the way data is collected, stored and used. This asset management data can be linked to GIS systems as well as metadata and other measurement parameters for a single view into a system. Dashboards, heat maps, custom alarms and reports can further reduce time spent looking for information.

For example, a PIPEMINDER pressure monitor installed at a single point (or deployed at several key areas) in a water distribution network provides instant notification of pressure transients in a system. The source is triangulated and confirmed via historical data housed in the RADAR platform; and configurable alarms alert utility workers of the location and severity of the incident so investigation can occur. District meter flow values, collected via E-Series Ultrasonic meters and transmitted through ORION Cellular endpoints, confirm a burst pipe. This information is sent securely to operators in the field or office, where it can be viewed in the BEACON platform. Water quality monitoring devices, like pipe::scan and MetriNet, confirm that residual chlorine and turbidity levels remain normal, so the water is safe to drink.  Field crews can then repair or replace the burst pipe and ensure customer satisfaction and confidence in their utility, even in the case of a network disruption.

Right Time, Right Place, Right Data
Smart water is a journey of intelligence. The data collected needs to be viewed at the right time, in the right place, with the right data for the right population to be actionable and worthwhile. Likewise, tactical deployment of technology delivers the information decision-makers need today.

Badger Meter is working closer than ever before with customers and strategic partners to deliver the real value of smart water. At Badger Meter, we combine measurement, communications, data and analytics into customizable smart water solutions, which enable customers to be more efficient, effective and sustainable throughout the water ecosystem.

For more information, visit badgermeter.com/better-water or visit booth 328, Hall C1 during IFAT 2024.