Smart water meters are taking off in the state of California, and are expected to cut down water usage by about 20% by 2020. Although 2020 is still a decade away, once a good amount of these new meters have been installed across the state, there could quickly be a water usage cut of 5-15%. Currently most homes in California have manual water meters in place, but the life on those is about 15 to 20. This gives these homes near-future opportunities to replace the soon-to-be outdated water meters with the new smart meters.
While current water meters have to be checked manually, and are only checked every few months, the smart meters record water usage on an hourly basis. In the state's attempt to conserve water, state-wide installation of these systems will drastically reduce water consumption, bringing down home and business utility bills, and leaving more water available for use where it is really needed. This new technology has been studied over the past year, and results from studies show that serious conservation percentages are a reality for California.
These new smart water meters are an important part of the nation's continuous efforts to conserve resources, be kinder to the environment, and to make our citizens more environmentally conscious. Prices for the smart water mater has not been disclosed, but with more research, hopefully these meters will be priced low enough that people from all areas of the country will be able to afford them. By having the hourly updated water readings in your own home, a homeowner will know if there is a leak in their well if say, showers aren't running and no sprinkler system is on.
I believe the state of California, and ultimately the nation's government, should make these new water meters mandatory for everyone. Reaching a more environmentally-conscioused mindset will allow the United States of America to head the global shift toward conservation of energy and resources.
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I think this is a very good idea and will have significant results. Over using water has become a critical problem that needs to be addressed. Although this idea is very simple it definitely has the capability to have drastic effects. Water shortages in California do only effect the amount of available drinking water but wasting water there leads to massive forest fires which amplify the problem greatly because if so much water was wasted that there is a drought and fires, what water is left to put out the fires? Simple ideas like this one are what our country as well as many others need to get headed in the right direction for saving our environment before its too late. Another country that could benefit greatly from this product is Australia as they consistently find themselves with a shortage of water due to lack of rainfall. In conclusion, I believe this is a great product that has the potential to have a positive effect on our environment.
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent idea for an issue that is very relevant to today's society. The water meter usage starting in California will eventually lead to other states using the meters to reduce water usage. The ability to check the meters by an hour proves to be a major factor because now business and homes can see if they have had an over excess of water usage and be able to cut down significantly rather than waiting a month to know their total usage.
ReplyDeleteI think the move of California residents from regular water meters to smart water meters is a good idea that will ultimately benefit them and the environment. The main factor for determining how successful these new smart meters will be is if they are affordable to many customers. Water is wasted everyday, and with the use of these new smart meters it will facilitate the usage of water and allow citizens to be more efficient with their water usage. I read online that California has installed 3 laws that will eventually force all residents to have water meters since many do not have one. These laws include that every house built after 1992 is required to have a water meter, cities that get federal water must have meters by 2013, and in conclusion all California cities must have water meters by 2025. I think it's a great idea to improve the conservation of water. California will set an example to the rest of the country and in the future I believe almost every home will have a smart water meter.
ReplyDeleteThe only downside I could see to the smart water meters is that they will be too expensive for some people to install. If they are albe to price it at a low cost, then I think this will be a great addition to the ways our generation is trying to preserve our natural resources. I also think that if people are able to read their water meters more regualrly, they will be surprised at how much water they actually use. This might influence them to be more conscious about how long they shower for or leave the water running. This could become a major reform with California acting as a test run.
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