Managing water meter upgrades for City of Patterson: from installation to integration
At a glance
The City of Patterson in California committed to modernising its water metering network, beginning with more than 6,000 network-connected positive displacement meters to be installed over 18 months. But installing the hardware was only half the story. Making sure the data was accurate, reliable and useful to the utility’s billing system required careful coordination and a strong delivery partner.
That’s where we came in.
What began as a project to oversee meter installation and data integration has since grown into a broader partnership—helping the City optimise its investment through digital integration, a new geospatial digital twin, and ongoing regulatory support.
The City of Patterson in California committed to modernising its water metering network, beginning with more than 6,000 network-connected positive displacement meters to be installed over 18 months.
The challenge
The project’s installation contractor reached out to us to act as an independent overseer during the implementation of the City’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). They needed someone who could make sure the meters were installed correctly, that the data flowed as expected, and that the city’s internal systems were set up to make the most of their investment.
Advanced metering infrastructure is a major step forward for water utilities, offering real-time consumption data and streamlined billing. However, the information doesn’t just flow seamlessly into utility systems. Data must be validated, formatted and integrated into billing platforms—none of which happens automatically.
Our response
Our team worked closely with the City’s billing department to understand their current processes, map out how data would come in from the new AMI system, and define how it would need to be cleaned and interpreted before being entered into the billing platform.
That meant converting raw meter data into actionable customer information, ensuring alignment with local billing regulations, and equipping billing staff with the tools and support needed to adapt to the new system. We worked closely with the billing department to ensure the new data was seamlessly integrated into the existing billing system, so there were no delays in getting accurate bills out to customers due to data issues.
We also regularly visited the field, inspecting installations, confirming work was being done to standard, and acting as a go-between when issues cropped up between the installation contractor, the meter vendor, and the City. In many ways, this work became a full project management role to keep everything moving and aligned.
There were times when the installer requested change orders for meter types or installation methods that weren’t included in the original request for proposal. In these cases, we stepped in to advise the City, review the contract terms, and push back where appropriate.
Our role helped the City maintain clarity on scope and expectations, while still making room for reasonable additions, such as expanding our support to include additional data integration and validation tasks.
“GHD played a key role in helping the City navigate this important transition, providing valuable guidance from planning through execution,” says Maria Encinas, Water Resources Manager with the City of Patterson. “This project marks a significant step forward in modernizing our water system, enabling more accurate data collection, improved customer service and better resource management. We’re proud to be laying the groundwork for a smarter, more sustainable future and GHD’s partnership was instrumental in making that possible.”
The impact
What began as a project to oversee meter installation and data integration has since grown into a broader partnership with the City of Patterson.
Following the AMI rollout, we were engaged to build a geospatial digital twin of the City’s water utility network, a foundational step to support ongoing asset management, operational efficiency, and long-term planning. Today, we continue to support Patterson by conducting their annual water audit validations, a regulatory requirement under California’s water efficiency framework.
“We greatly appreciate the professionalism and expertise that GHD brought to the implementation of the City’s water metering project,” adds Maria.
Smart water meters are transforming how utilities manage water, reduce non-revenue water, detect leaks, and engage with customers. But installing hardware is just the beginning. To realise the full value of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), utilities need a comprehensive strategy that connects physical infrastructure with digital systems, operational workflows, and the people who rely on them, ultimately supporting proactive water loss reduction and improved utility performance.