Greenville Utilities Commission Enhances Network Intelligence with Pressure Monitoring

Like many water utilities, GUC has made leak reduction a high priority—but preventing water main breaks is equally critical. These breaks not only lead to significant water loss and costly repairs but also disrupt service and erode customer confidence.

Detecting and Preventing Costly Pressure Transients

GUC faced recurring challenges from pressure transients—sudden pressure changes that can stress and damage water infrastructure, often resulting in leaks or main breaks. In one occurrence, a break occurred on a weekend night, and utility crews spent hours manually searching the system before locating the issue in a remote industrial area.

The event highlighted a clear need: a smarter, faster, and more proactive approach to identifying pressure issues with an ability to pinpoint the exact location of failures before they escalate.

Although GUC had existing pressure monitoring in place, the system lacked the ability to effectively triangulate transient sources or deliver actionable insights. That’s when GUC turned to Badger Meter for a more intuitive answer.

Strategic, Data-Driven Deployment

To enhance network awareness and reduce the time to detect and respond to pressure events, GUC implemented advanced pressure monitoring and analytics solutions from Badger Meter.

Leveraging the Badger Meter-advised deployment planning, utility engineers simulated various transient events across the distribution system within RADAR. The software uses GIS data to model wave propagation, evaluate pressure wave attenuation, and highlight the most strategic locations for monitoring deployment. This resulted in color-coded coverage maps that guided optimal placement of devices across GUC’s network.

GUC subsequently deployed 22 PIPEMINDER-ONE monitoring units, covering approximately 725 miles of pipe—each device continuously collecting high-resolution pressure data.

Pinpointing Issues with Precision

When a pressure drop signals a potential problem on the network, RADAR utilizes data from multiple PIPEMINDER-ONE monitors to triangulate the source of the transient event. Thanks to built-in GPS, an algorithm processes the data and alerts the utility to the exact location of concern—empowering crews to respond rapidly and efficiently.

With this intelligent system in place, GUC transitioned from reactive leak discovery to a proactive, data-led approach, significantly reducing time-to-response and associated water loss.

Real-Time Monitoring, Smart Alerts

The Badger Meter system incorporates S3 scoring—a proprietary metric that quantifies pressure change severity over time. High S3 scores trigger alerts, signaling unusual pressure activity that may require further investigation. A stable system produces an S3 score of zero, helping operators differentiate between critical and routine activity.

In another instance, GUC identified excessive transients caused by outdated valves closing too quickly. By upgrading to modern, slow-closing valve technology, the utility immediately reduced system stress and improved overall performance—just one example of how actionable insights from Badger Meter drive smarter operations.

A Future Built on Data-Driven Decisions

Encouraged by the results, GUC is making real-time network intelligence a cornerstone of its operational strategy. The utility is committed to leveraging Badger Meter technology to continue enhancing service reliability, efficiency, and environmental stewardship.

As the water industry continues to evolve, GUC’s partnership with Badger Meter positions it to meet growing demands with confidence, agility, and precision.

This story was previously published in Pumps and Systems Magazine.