The City of Bismarck and Montana-Dakota Utilities announced today a public-private partnership and collaboration that enables increased efficiency and a win-win cost effective solution. Through this partnership and Bismarck’s roll-out of water analytics, residents will see improved customer service, streamlined meter reading, and better managed water resources.
“One key element that led to the success of this project is the public- private partnership developed with Montana-Dakota Utilities and City of Bismarck. The effort started with the groundbreaking work of Director Keith Demke of Public Works and Mike Hirst of MDU and the support of the Bismarck City Commission,” said Michelle Klose, director, Bismarck public works utility operations. “They were both instrumental in bringing together this concept and partnership that we are now carrying forward.” MDU maintains the fixed network to read both Bismarck’s water meters and MDU’s utility meters, providing cost savings to all our customers.
“This has been a great partnership for Montana-Dakota Utilities. The city’s meters are within our footprint so it made sense to collaborate and allow the city to use our collection infrastructure,” said Sheila Kraft, senior business analyst for Montana-Dakota Utilities. “We benefit by being able to install data collectors on city-owned structures, such as water towers, which strengthens our system.”
“With Bismarck water analytics residents are able to set up accounts and monitor their usage, by the hour if they choose. This can help when they install sprinklers because they can check on how long they run and how much water they use,” said Bernadette Houser, Bismarck public works customer service manager. “Especially useful when they’re away on vacation or to monitor rental properties.”
Alerts can be set up to inform residents about unusual water usage at their property. Customers can set up their analytics by percentage, five percent to a 100%, the resident chooses the percentage. The alert can be sent as a text message to a phone or as an email message. “As an example of the benefits of the alerts, this past Christmas Eve one resident with a rental property had an email alert set up and received the alert when their renter was away for the Christmas holiday. The message let them know that around 3,000 gallons of water had gone through the meter and they knew no one was home. They were able to get into the home and found the basement toilet was backed up and water was flooding the bathroom floor and the basement bedroom. They were able to take care of the problem before it was much worse, since the renters didn’t return home for another two days,” said Houser. Water analytics also provides the city a metered leak report showing water meters in the city that have constant flow for a specified period of time.
For more information and to set up your water analytics account visit www.bismarcknd.gov/wateranalytics.