Irrigation-AMR

The Automated Meter Reading system is designed to remove the need for well users to report their water usage to the Edwards Aquifer Authority.

The conservation of our natural resources is more important than ever with today’s environmental challenges. The Automated Meter Reading (AMR) program is intended to help provide the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) with continuous data of how much water is being harvested by permit holders. By comparing the input of water into the Edwards Aquifer, the current water levels at various monitoring sites, and the output from wells, the EAA is more efficient at predicting future aquifer conditions and implementing conservation measures when necessary. More data makes natural resource management easier and conservation more effective. Contact Jose Barela, EAA Field Inspection Supervisor, to volunteer your well(s) for AMR. Email: jbarela@edwardsaquifer.org Phone: 210-477-5152

Currently, our industrial and municipal permit

holders and well users are required to report their well usage once per year; or monthly when the EAA establishes that the aquifer is at a critical level. The AMR station is a standalone, noninvasive transceiver that takes the readings from the water meters and remotely transmits the well’s use via cell modem so that users no longer need to do any of the reporting themselves.

The EAA is responsible for the installation, monitoring, and

maintenance of the AMR stations, which means that an AMR station is a zero cost to our permit holders. During end of the year billing, permit holders

are sent prefilled usage reports for easier payments.

• As well water is discharged from the pump, it flows through the irrigation pipe and the Flow Meter . This water flow causes the Meter’s propeller to rotate. • Two magnets, part of the flow rate display on the Meter ’s register, move when the drive shaft is spun by the propeller’s rotation. • The movement of the magnets is detected by the Sensor Ring installed on the meter by EAA staff, and is converted into an on/off electrical pulse per revolution. • The pulse is transmitted by the Sensor Ring through Buried Cable to the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) located in the (PLC) located in the Equipment Enclosure on the pole . • The PLC applies a value in gallons to each pulse, based on the meter type and size. This value is totalized over time by the PLC which provides volume in AF that matches the Meter register. • The volume calculated by the PLC is then stored along with other data in internal memory until it is collected. The data collected includes: • Time and Date • Volume in AF • Hourly Volume in AF • Flow Rate in GPM

• System Voltage • Diagnostic Data

• Each AMR station is connected to the EAA’s private cellular network via LTE Modem installed in the Equipment Enclosure . • The AMR stations transmit data via cellular signals to cell towers located throughout the Edwards Aquifer region. • Once the signals travel through the private cellular network, the actual data is then stored in a database server. • The server at the main office automatically collects data every six hours from the PLC at each station, totaling to four meter readings daily.