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Household Smart Water Metering in Spain: Insights from the Experience of Remote Meter Reading in Alicante

Author

Listed:
  • Hug March

    (Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3), Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain)

  • Álvaro-Francisco Morote

    (Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03080 Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Spain)

  • Antonio-Manuel Rico

    (Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03080 Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Spain)

  • David Saurí

    (Departament de Geografia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain)

Abstract

Since the past few years, the smart city paradigm has been influencing sustainable urban water resources management. Smart metering schemes for end users have become an important strategy for water utilities to have an in-depth and fine-grained knowledge about urban water use. Beyond reducing certain labor costs, such as those related to manual meter reading, such detailed and continuous flow of information is said to enhance network efficiency and improve water planning by having more detailed demand patterns and forecasts. Research focusing on those initiatives has been very prolific in countries such as Australia. However, less academic attention has been paid to the development of smart metering in other geographies. This paper focuses on smart water metering in Spain and, more particularly, documents and reflects on the experience of the city of Alicante (southeastern Spain), a pioneer case of massive deployment of remote reading of water meters at the household level and for large urban customers. Through data and interviews with water managers from the water utility, we shed light on the costs and early benefits, as well as the potentialities and (unexpected) problems of this technology to contribute to more sustainable urban water cycles.

Suggested Citation

  • Hug March & Álvaro-Francisco Morote & Antonio-Manuel Rico & David Saurí, 2017. "Household Smart Water Metering in Spain: Insights from the Experience of Remote Meter Reading in Alicante," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:582-:d:95537
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Brenda Espinosa Apráez & Saskia Lavrijssen, 2018. "Exploring the regulatory challenges of a possible rollout of smart water meters in the Netherlands," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 19(3-4), pages 159-179, September.
    3. Amankwaa, Godfred & Heeks, Richard & Browne, Alison L., 2023. "Smartening up: User experience with smart water metering infrastructure in an African city," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    4. Fettermann, Diego Castro & Cavalcante, Caroline Gobbo Sá & Ayala, Néstor Fabián & Avalone, Marianne Costa, 2020. "Configuration of a smart meter for Brazilian customers," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    5. Steven Hendrik Andreas Koop & Sharon Helena Pascale Clevers & Elisabeth Johanna Maria Blokker & Stijn Brouwer, 2021. "Public Attitudes towards Digital Water Meters for Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Sarah A. Elariane & Jean Dubé, 2019. "Is Smart Housing a Good Deal? An Answer Based on Monte Carlo Net Present Value Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-29, August.
    7. Carlos J. Baños & María Hernández & Antonio M. Rico & Jorge Olcina, 2019. "The Hydrosocial Cycle in Coastal Tourist Destinations in Alicante, Spain: Increasing Resilience to Drought," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Koo, A Mi & Kim, Ju-Hee & Yoo, Seung-Hoon, 2022. "Household willingness to pay for a smart water metering and monitoring system: The case of South Korea," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    9. Antti Silvast & Robin Williams & Sampsa Hyysalo & Kjetil Rommetveit & Charles Raab, 2018. "Who ‘Uses’ Smart Grids? The Evolving Nature of User Representations in Layered Infrastructures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-21, October.

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