Northumbrian and Welsh trial smart metering alternative

Northumbrian Water and Welsh Water are trialling an alternative to smart water metering which they claim could reduce customer bills.

According to Northumbrian Water the device under trial, dubbed Jellyfish, overcomes difficulties in connecting water meters to the internet owing to their location in underground chambers that blocks access to 4G, 5G or WiFi.

Jellyfish – attaches to a conventional water meter to connect wirelessly via low-power technology, 0G. Its maker, Hampshire-based internet connection specialist B4T, analyses the data from the Jellyfish “to identify and prioritise leakage which helps to prevent damage to people’s homes – and wallets.” B4T claimed preliminary results showed the device to be 96% reliable.

Welsh Water is using the Jellyfish in its Cartref programme, which aims to reduce leaks in customers’ pipes. Northumbrian Water has helped to fund the trials taking place in Cardiff and Tywyn, north Wales.

B4T managing director, Alex Barter, said: “B4T are on a mission to redefine smart water metering.”