Water department receives grant to upgrade metering infrastructure

San Bernardino Municipal Water Department (SBMWD) has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Department of Water Resources as part of the Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant Program.

SBMWD plans to use the funding for Phase I of its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project. As part of a multi-year plan, Phase I of the AMI project will install data communication infrastructure, upgrade 7,500 water meters to smart metering technology, and connect over one quarter of the Department’s total water meters to an advanced metering network.

“The system upgrades accomplished through the AMI project will allow SBMWD to increase operational efficiencies, save water, and provide better services to the Department’s customers,” said Miguel Guerrero, SBMWD General Manager. “The advanced metering network supports the many actions SBMWD is taking to mitigate drought impacts and ensure sustainability of local water supplies.”

The department will be able to save water by fixing leaks more quickly, notification of abnormal consumption patterns, and provide access to real-time water use data through a new customer engagement portal. Resulting water savings will offset water pumped from San Bernardino’s primary water source, the Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, and help reduce the need to purchase imported water supplies to recharge the basin.