The city of Kalamazoo in the US has allocated $2 million for the purchase of advanced smart water meters. The new Neptune meters, which provide near real-time data, will help detect leaks and optimize water usage for both the city and its residents.
The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to modernize the city’s water infrastructure. Currently, 7,500 smart meters are operational within Kalamazoo’s 46,000-meter system. The latest investment will primarily support the replacement of 1,300 lead service lines in the Edison neighborhood, with most of the new meters installed in this area. This approach allows crews to replace both the service lines and meters simultaneously, minimizing disruption to residents.
Additional meters will be installed in areas west of U.S. 131 and south of I-94, as well as in Richland Township through a partnership with the Gull Lake Sewer Water Authority. The city has been phasing in smart meters since a successful 2019 pilot program, with all meters in the Parchment water system upgraded by 2020.
