IDT Launches Satellite-Based Rural Water Management System

"Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) has become the accepted standard among water utilities. Yet there has never been a feasible way for rural water utilities to employ AMR because rural water meter sites are often spread far apart, in areas with no cellular or wired connectivity, and with limited or no power availability," said Angelo Polsinelli, Executive Vice-President of IDT. "We have recognized these challenges, and the Harmony satellite-based AMR overcomes them, to provide a complete water management system for rural water utilities."

The Harmony Water Management System consists of two primary parts connected through satellite communications: Harmony Satellite Field Units and Harmony Cloud, a web application.

Harmony Satellite Field Units are autonomous, internally-powered meter reading devices, with a guaranteed 3,650 daily meter reads, giving an estimated 10-year battery life. Field Units work with a growing variety of major brands of meters. Because they send data over satellite, no additional infrastructure is needed: no land, towers, line of sight to a vehicle, fuel usage, base station, or truck maintenance is required. It also offers two-way communication.

Meter data is accessed through the Harmony Cloud Water Management System. Because Harmony Cloud is a web-based application, it is available through a standard Internet browser and there is no special software to install. Backup and security for data are handled offsite, and using the software is as simple as using many common web pages. Billing data can be automatically imported to utilities' existing systems using standard data methods. A web module offers complete billing functions, simplifying end-to-end customer relationships.

Additional specifications for Harmony Cloud include:

•     Full 2-way communication with the remote readers
•     Daily loss detection though comparison of produced and sold amounts
•     Reports and views by service area/zone
•     Built-in structure allows for service area/zone comparisons
•     Ability to change reading frequency
•     Potential for other remotely operated functions

Harmony Water Management Systems are available directly from IDT at idt.us.com.

About Informational Data Technologies

Informational Data Technologies, LLC (IDT), enables rural water, wastewater, and other rural utilities to better manage their utility via access to daily meter readings with the patent-pending IDT Harmony system. IDT has been formed to fulfill identified needs within the data gathering and delivery marketplace. Our goal is for IDT to become the preferred choice for "DATA DELIVERED."

For more information on how IDT gives you your data delivered visit www.idt.us.com.