Smart Water Project for Fiji that can adapt to individual water consumption

Fiji will be joining the new global 'smart water' project, this is if the trial in the greater Suva area is successful. Sources say the smart metre project is a modern, innovative and efficient water distribution service that reads the customer's actual water consumption four times a day. It transmits the information to an online platform that provides real-time consumption to customers.

Suez, a French company, owns the smart metre technology. It is currently being trialled in two French overseas territories in the Pacific - New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Pierre-Emmanuel Louvet of Suez Smart Solutions said they are working with the Water Authority of Fiji to install and test 20 to 30 smart metres in the greater Suva areas. He explained that the fully automatic system provides customers with the control to monitor water consumption and save some money from things like leaks and other wastage. "This solution allows for the real-time measurement of consumption and a leak alert system. This technology will provide the inhabitants with more control over their water bills and help protect the environment through the responsible use of water resources."

Louvet said the customer is able to track water consumption in real time via the online platform and is alerted via an SMS or email if a leak is suspected. It also enables more responsive planning of interventions in the field and greater sharing of information with the local authorities. Louvet said they are waiting for their New Caledonian office to confirm the installation of the smart metres and the receiving antennas with the Water Authority of Fiji. He said they have completed the mapping exercise of the Suva area and are ready to deploy the equipment for installation.