COVER SERIES | Water Management
Cellular AMI Drives Sustainable Water Use in Fayette County
Using improved flow measurement data, a Georgia water and wastewater utility saved nearly 21 million gallons of water in seven months.
Amanda Cronin | Badger Meter
| IMAGE 1: The move toward cellular AMI helped Fayette County save nearly 21 million gallons of water in the first seven months of deployment. (Images courtesy of Badger Meter)
In 2019, the Fayette County Water System (FCWS) existed in a metering landscape that reflected decades of incremental upgrades. While a partial water meter upgrade had taken place in 2000, many large meters in the network were installed in the 1980s. The result was a mix of newer cellular meters, aging automatic meter reading (AMR) devices and large meters requiring manual reads. That patchwork created operational inefficiencies and resource strain. As the county grew, field staffing did not keep pace. At the same time, manual processes posed a revenue risk.
After replacing a single 6-inch meter, the utility saw an immediate $30,000 increase in monthly revenue from that alone. The utility began its mass meter changeout, upgrading to a cellular advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in June 2023.
Located just south of Atlanta, FCWS serves a largely residential, retirement-oriented community. With approximately 34,000 connections across nearly 800 miles of distribution main, FCWS approached its AMI transition deliberately. The utility conducted an extensive needs assessment with its engineer of record and developed a request for proposal (RFP) with nearly 500 requirements.
Financial Impact
In addition to increasing meter accuracy and reducing water loss, staff wanted to streamline the meter-to-cash process and improve utility end user field services and engagement. The fiscal impact was both immediate and sustained. In the calendar year of 2024 and with only 70% of devices deployed, utility revenue had increased almost 12% from the previous year. Follow-up comparisons showed similar trends.
Much of that gain came from improved large meter accuracy. Although large meters represent a small share of total connections, they account for a sizable portion of utility revenue. Replacing outdated and inaccurate devices with advanced meter technology delivered measurement accuracy and uncovered water loss.
| IMAGE 2: Operators use analytics to prioritize field service staff time spent in the field.
Water Conservation & Sustainability
Beyond revenue, the utility emphasized water conservation and user engagement as important outcomes of the project. Using data integrated into dashboards, FCWS tracks leak alerts and is proactive about user outreach. The results for the first seven months of deployment were staggering. From July 2025 to February 2026, approximately 20.9 million gallons of water were saved via leak detection and user notification. In addition, users were able to download an app to view their water use, set up alerts for atypical flows that could indicate a leak and more.
Improvements to Utility Operations & Workforce Management
Operationally, the transition to AMI has reshaped workflows across departments. Staff are able to analyze usage patterns in real time, providing more useful feedback to users. The shift has also reduced unnecessary field visits and elevated the role of customer service staff, using interval data to identify continuous flow and determine whether an issue is likely on the user’s side of the meter. The utility is training after-hours operators to use analytics before dispatching crews, helping to prioritize true emergencies.
At the same time as the meter changeout, FCWS completed its required lead and copper service line inventory, taking advantage of the fact that installation crews were already working at each service location. By aligning the two efforts, the utility maximized labor resources, reduced repeat site visits and minimized disruption to users and neighborhoods. GPS coordinates were also captured for all meters during the process, strengthening long-term asset visibility and helping prevent future rework.
Making the Move to Cellular AMI
A large-scale change to AMI is complex and involves a broad range of stakeholders. A mass deployment approach can modernize a system in a short span, allowing users to reap the benefits sooner to maximize value.
With accurate data, stronger user engagement and measurable gains in revenue and conservation, FCWS is positioned not only to operate more efficiently but to continue building that momentum in the years ahead.
Amanda Cronin is a customer success supervisor at Badger Meter. She has 25 years of experience in the water industry and may be reached at acronin@badgermeter.com. For more information, visit badgermeter.com.
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