Tucson Water is entering a new phase of digital water management, partnering with Itron to deploy a city-wide Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program aimed at strengthening conservation, improving operational efficiency and giving customers greater visibility over their water use.
The project will see the rollout of Itron’s AMI Essentials for water, a bundled cellular-based solution designed to support small to medium-sized water utilities transitioning from automated meter reading to full AMI capability. Around 250,000 smart water communication modules will be deployed across the City of Tucson’s distribution network, with the project expected to be completed by the end of 2029.
The deployment aligns with Tucson Water’s long-term One Water 2100 Plan, which focuses on securing a resilient and diverse water supply while supporting equitable access and sustainable resource management. In a region where water preservation is central to urban resilience, the ability to detect losses early and understand consumption patterns in detail is increasingly critical.
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Tucson is internationally recognised for its approach to water conservation, relying heavily on Colorado River supplies that are recharged into local aquifers. The AMI rollout is intended to provide the utility with near-real-time visibility into its network, supporting more proactive management of leaks, non-revenue water, and customer demand.
Itron’s AMI Essentials solution combines three core components: cellular-enabled meter modules, a managed network service and cloud-based data management software. Together, they enable Tucson Water to collect consumption data at 15-minute intervals via public cellular networks, eliminating the need for dedicated radio infrastructure and reducing operational overhead.
The cellular modules automatically transmit data back to the utility, enabling faster identification of abnormal usage patterns that may indicate leaks. This capability also supports customer engagement by giving households and businesses access to more detailed consumption information, helping them make informed decisions about water use.
“Deploying AMI is an essential investment in the reliability and long-term resilience of our water system,” Tucson Water Deputy Director Silvia Amparano said. “This technology gives us real-time insight that helps us reduce water loss, improve operational efficiency, and empower our customers with information they can use to manage their own water use.”
The system is supported by Itron’s Network-as-a-Service model, under which the company manages the communications network and head-end systems on behalf of the utility. Itron brings experience managing more than 100 million endpoints globally, providing a scalable pathway for utilities moving from legacy AMR systems to more advanced digital platforms.
At the centre of the deployment is Itron’s Temetra meter data management platform, which aggregates reads from across the distribution system and supports multiple meter types and protocols. The platform includes map-based routing and asset management tools, allowing utilities to identify infrastructure risks, monitor peak demand and pinpoint areas of potential non-revenue water loss.
“For many water utilities and cities, reducing water loss is a key challenge,” Itron senior vice president of Outcomes Don Reeves said. “The first step to address this is gaining greater visibility into the water distribution network. Itron’s AMI Essentials for water provides that visibility, enabling utilities to detect leaks sooner, reduce non-revenue water loss and improve operational efficiency.”
As climate pressures intensify and urban water systems face increasing demand, projects such as Tucson’s AMI rollout highlight how digital infrastructure is becoming foundational to long-term water security. By embedding real-time data and analytics into daily operations, utilities are better positioned to conserve resources, improve service reliability and support more resilient communities.