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3 to 5 Nov 2026The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has concluded its ConnectH2O initiative, replacing more than 604,000 mechanical water meters with advanced electronic devices across its service territory. The Texas utility declared this the most extensive water meter replacement undertaking completed by any American municipality, wrapping up approximately twelve months earlier than originally projected.
From Planning To Completion In Under Four Years
The program’s development began in 2018, with formal board authorization arriving in December 2021. Field deployment commenced in 2022 and concluded in late December 2025, despite an initial timeline extending through 2026. The project’s final expenditure settled near $200 million, roughly $30 million below initial projections of $230 million.
SAWS selected Itron as its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology provider, while Vanguard Utility Service handled field installations. Harris SmartWorks supplied the Meter Data Management System that processes consumption information collected from across the network.
Infrastructure Partnership With Electric Utility
A distinctive element of the deployment involves network sharing with CPS Energy, San Antonio’s municipal electric provider. Rather than constructing an independent communications network, SAWS water meters transmit data through CPS Energy’s existing AMI infrastructure, which that utility completed in 2018 after replacing 740,000 electric meters. This arrangement reduces costs for both organizations while leveraging existing municipal investments.
The shared network model represents an unusual approach made possible by San Antonio’s municipal ownership of both utilities. Most American cities lack this structural alignment since electric and water services typically operate under separate private or public entities.
Technical Transition From Mechanical To Solid-State Measurement
The outgoing meters relied on positive displacement mechanisms with internal moving components that measure water flow through physical rotation. These mechanical devices degrade over time, particularly when measuring low flow rates, potentially underregistering actual consumption.
The replacement devices utilize ultrasonic measurement technology with no moving parts. SAWS indicates these electronic meters maintain accuracy across a wider flow range and offer an expected operational lifespan of approximately 20 years. The technology captures hourly consumption readings and transmits data wirelessly to utility systems, eliminating the need for monthly manual meter reading operations that previously required roughly 70 field personnel.
Consumer-Facing Applications And Leak Detection
Through SAWS’ online portal, customers can now access hourly consumption patterns rather than receiving a single monthly usage figure. The system generates automated alerts when continuous flow exceeding five gallons per hour persists for 48 hours, potentially indicating undetected leaks on customer premises.
During the 2021 pilot phase involving 2,500 test installations, the technology identified possible leaks at more than 400 properties. This early detection capability can prevent water waste while helping customers avoid unexpected high bills from unnoticed plumbing failures.
Operational Implications For Water Management
The granular consumption data supports SAWS’ broader water conservation objectives in a region dependent on the Edwards Aquifer and subject to periodic drought conditions. The utility can now analyze usage patterns across different times of day and identify areas where conservation messaging might prove most effective.
The hourly readings also provide data that could support enforcement of watering restrictions during drought periods, though SAWS officials have indicated the utility has no immediate plans to use meter data as the sole basis for violation citations.
Market Context For Municipal Smart Water Infrastructure
SAWS’ project represents one of several large-scale AMI deployments occurring across American water utilities as the sector modernizes aging infrastructure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has projected that pipe replacement rates will quadruple by 2035, and federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has earmarked $55 billion for water projects, with modernized metering often a prerequisite for grant eligibility.
