Stadtwerke Rotenburg a. d. Fulda expects greater efficiency in operational processes, time savings and more consumer service through valuable information on leaks by switching from a drive-by readout to a fixed network.
The Rotenburg a.d. Fulda municipal utility supplies approx. 4,300 households with clean drinking water via a 160 km long pipeline network. In 2015, the Hessian water company started the complete rollout of the electronic Kamstrup ultrasonic water meters MULTICAL® 21 including remote reading software READy.
“We have always been forward-thinking with regard to digitisation in the water industry,” says Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles, a state-certified technician, explaining this decision. In search of an alternative to the previously used measuring capsule meters, the expert looked into the various options at a drinking water conference in Gemünden in 2014 and came across Kamstrup. “Everything we were told at the trade fair proved correct and the reading worked excellently right from the start,” says Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles. The decisive factor for him in choosing Kamstrup products was the economic overall package and the certainty that the meters are 100% data protection compliant.
The meters that have been converted since 2016 are already fit for a fixed network reading. With a fixed network solution, Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles expects to be able to carry out zone readings faster. Using drive-by readout, the technician needs two working days. In future, the data should be available on the PC every morning. The Hessian utility wants to use this to exploit all the advantages and take the next step into the digital age.
It expects greater efficiency in operational processes as well as better service for consumers through valuable information concerning leaks. “My hope is for a permanent area-wide network analysis that makes it easy to determine whether there is a burst pipe,” says Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles.
In a small town with about 90 households, Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles uses the flowIQ® 3100 as a district meter to determine the difference between the amount of water fed in and the amount billed.
Next year, the meters will be subjected to the first random sampling procedure. Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles is convinced that they will not only pass in 2021, but also over the next nine years. “With the sampling method, our investment will soon pay for itself,” predicts the technician.
“Acting in a forward-looking way” is the motto of the Rotenburg a.d. Fulda municipal utility and it is therefore no surprise that there are already more plans in store. In around ten years, when the MULTICAL® 21 domestic water meters in use will have reached their end of life, Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles would like to use the new flowIQ® 2200 water meters with acoustic leakage detection. “This gives us the immense advantage of being able to quickly detect leaks BEFORE the water meter and then immediately find the pipe bursts in the distribution network,” he argues.
. As digitisation in the water industry will not stop there, the flowIQ® 2200 offers the water experts a simple tool to detect leaks in front of the meter in addition to an exact consumption measurement - and this in addition to the numerous other advantages of an ultrasonic measurement.
Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles has already dealt extensively with the digital possibilities and with the help of the latest water meter from Kamstrup as well as the relevant software, the innovative water supplier expects significant potential for consumption analyses through to network renovation planning.
When the customer and the manufacturer work together constructively as partners, further developments can be implemented quickly. For example, Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles is grateful that Kamstrup listens to advice regarding the use of the READy software in practice and quickly implements any suggestions for improvement. “Kamstrup also benefits from this. Theory is one thing, but practice must also be taken into account - and this works perfectly," explains the technician.
“I am persuaded by Kamstrup's products because everything is coordinated and fits together - we use it and it works,” says Sebastian Schmidt-Schalles. He continues: “Before Kamstrup puts a product on the market, they do a lot of testing to avoid teething problems."
The flowIQ® 2200 is a state-of-the-art ultrasonic water meter for household use. Up to 16 years lifetime with acoustic leakage detection even in front of the meter and maximum accuracy.
MULTICAL ® 21 is an electronic ultrasonic water meter for household use. With maximum accuracy, up to 16 years lifetime and integrated communication options.
READy is an effective, powerful system for remote reading. A READy system can be adapted to your needs and expanded as your requirements change.
