The City of Greeley received a $2 million WaterSMART grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
to replace approximately 11,000 old water meters with advanced technology to
improve water-use efficiency throughout Greeley.
The new meters communicate wirelessly with an online portal also
called WaterSmart to provide registered customers with secure, near real-time
access to review and manage their water usage.
“It’s exciting that all of Greeley’s water customers will get access
to WaterSmart tools and be able to monitor their usage and build more
water-efficient habits both inside their homes and with their landscaping,”
said Sean Chambers, Greeley’s director of Water & Sewer.
Greeley’s project was one of 14 the Bureau announced June 21, 2022,
as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to safeguard local water supplies
in the face of severe western drought.
Greeley received a similar $1.45 million grant in 2020 from the
Bureau and so far, has replaced nearly 12,000 meters throughout the city. This
$2 million grant will enable Greeley to replace most of the remaining water
meters with this new technology. Collectively, these projects are expected to
save 740 million gallons each year, enough to serve about 15,000 homes, through
more accurate reading, early leak detection, and enhanced conservation efforts
by customers.
WaterSmart Provides Data and Control
Chambers says putting more knowledge and control in the hands of
customers through the WaterSmart portal is critical to serving Greeley’s customers
and efficiently using our finite water supplies. “By empowering customers
to make informed decisions about their water usage, they can impact their
monthly bills and enhance our collective wise use of a scarce resource,” he
said.
Customers can configure the WaterSmart application to send them
email and text alerts when their usage is outside normal patterns, which can
help identify leaks quickly. The portal also has built-in tutorials to guide
customers through finding a water leak, as well as the option to email the Greeley
Water conservation team with questions.
Customers can register for WaterSmart and learn more about the
ongoing meter replacement program, including an interactive map and schedule,
on the Greeley Water & Sewer website at www.greeleygov.com/services/ws/water-budget/metering.
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