ATLANTA, Oct. 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mueller Systems announced its Mi.Echo™ system has been selected by West Virginia American Water to help it enhance the utility's ability to detect leaks in its distribution mains.
The Mi.Echo™ system integrates acoustic-based leak detection technology from Echologics, a developer and provider of acoustic-based technologies for leak detection, pipe condition assessment and water loss management, with Mi.Net® — Mueller Infrastructure Network for Utilities, Mueller Systems' fixed, two-way advanced metering infrastructure ("AMI") network for utilities.
West Virginia American Water will deploy the Mi.Echo system along a 10-mile stretch of West Virginia's Kanawha Valley River, including Charleston, Kanawha City, South Charleston and Dunbar. This project is the largest application of the Mi.Echo technology in North America to date.
Mueller Systems and Echologics are affiliates of Mueller Co., North America's largest and only full-line supplier of potable water distribution products, and part of the Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) group of companies. The Mi.Echo system is part of Mueller Water Products' Intelligent Water Technology™ portfolio of products and services that actively diagnose, monitor and control the delivery of safe, clean drinking water to consumers and businesses.
"By integrating technology into water infrastructure, West Virginia American Water is gaining greater access to data and the ability to integrate leak detection into their metering program, both of which can help them manage their assets more efficiently and improve customer service," said Hassan Ali, vice president and general manager of Mueller Systems.
"West Virginia American Water's mission is to provide our customers with high-quality, reliable water service, and we are committed to using technologies that allow us to increase our efficiencies and the value of the services we provide," said Jeff McIntyre, president of West Virginia American Water. "With the Mi.Echo system, we will be able to continuously monitor for leaks in a non-invasive manner to ensure that treated water reaches its intended destination and is not lost. Additionally, this technology will give us the opportunity to detect leaks and address repairs before they become significant issues, which could lower production costs and reduce potential disruption for our communities."
Echologics pioneered the development of a proprietary, acoustic-based system, known as LeakFinderRT™, which can be used in the field to non-invasively locate distribution main leaks with exceptional accuracy without breaking ground or inserting tools into the water system.
As the only two-way AMI solution that incorporates components of the LeakFinderRT platform, the Mi.Echo system is designed to enable utilities to remotely detect and pinpoint leaks on distribution mains. This capability can help utilities more intelligently reduce non-revenue water while prioritizing and conducting repair projects. It does so by detecting leaks without using field crews, excavating potential leak sites or resorting to other costly and time consuming tasks normally associated with traditional leak detection methods.
About Mueller Systems
Mueller Systems delivers Smart Metrology solutions that optimize the distribution and use of water and energy. Our expanding product portfolio offers system solutions from meters, AMR to beyond AMI for the most challenging applications. Municipalities that supply water and electricity need innovative ways to increase efficiencies, reduce costs, conserve water and energy, provide safety to their employees and improve customer service. Mueller Systems portfolio of technology meets that need. For more information about Mueller Systems, please visit www.muellersystems.com.
About Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water in North America. Our broad product and service portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, metering products and systems, leak detection and pipe condition assessment. We help municipalities increase operational efficiencies, improve customer service and prioritize capital spending, demonstrating why Mueller Water Products is Where Intelligence Meets Infrastructure®. The piping component systems produced by Anvil help build connections that last in commercial, industrial and oil & gas applications. Visit us at www.muellerwaterproducts.com.
About West Virginia American Water
West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE:AWK), is the largest water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to 550,000 people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,600 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in more than 40 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.