California American Water Pilots New Web-Based, Water-Saving Technology

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

In an effort to conserve both water and the power used to pump it as well as help customers avoid high bills due to leaks, California American Water announced today it will be testing new technology that will enable participating Monterey Peninsula customers to monitor their daily water usage and identify unusually high water use that may indicate a leak.

"Nobody likes the shock of a high water bill due to a toilet or irrigation leak that they don't know about until the bill arrives," said Rob MacLean, President of California American Water. "And by the time the leak is discovered, thousands of gallons of water can be wasted as well as all the energy required to pump that water. By providing customers a detailed picture of their daily water usage, we hope to reveal opportunities for water savings."

California American Water is currently recruiting up to 200 business and residential customers to voluntarily participate in the pilot. The objective of the pilot is to garner enough information to evaluate feasibility, cost of operation and to evaluate which features customers find most useful. The pilot will begin this month and will run for approximately one year. Participants will come primarily from two neighborhoods. However, others will be selected from a number of areas on the peninsula to ensure there is a mix of residential and commercial customers testing the technology.

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water AWK, provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 600,000 people.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,600 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in more than 40 states as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.