A water leak that once could run for a month can now trigger an alert within a day.
Greeley, Colorado, has replaced roughly 27,000 aging water meters with advanced Badger Meter technology, changing how the city measures demand and helps customers find waste.
The old meters were about 15 years old. Declining batteries and worn equipment could produce incomplete or inaccurate readings, while city employees had to drive through the service area to collect data.
The new cellular meters record water use in 15-minute intervals. Customers can examine their consumption through an online portal and receive automatic alerts when continuous flow signals a possible leak.
That level of detail can also expose excessive outdoor irrigation and help utility staff distinguish unusual demand from ordinary household use. More accurate measurement gives Greeley a clearer accounting of the water moving through its infrastructure.
The city secured $3.5 million through federal WaterSMART grants to help finance the conversion. For the final 11,193-meter phase, Greeley projected annual benefits of 1,146 acre-feet—about 373 million gallons—from greater meter accuracy, faster leak detection and changes in customer water use.
Smart meters do not conserve water by themselves. Their value comes from turning an invisible problem into timely information that customers and utilities can act on.
Resilience in the Rockies is produced in collaboration with WaterNow and made possible in part by a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, with support from PCL Construction, Norris Design, Merrick, and the City of Greeley.
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