Ameresco deploys smart water meters for Mesquite, Texas

In Fort Worth alone, nearly 270,000 residential and commercial water meters are slated for replacement with advanced digital technology, part of a $76 million overhaul approved in 2015, according to Texas Water Newsroom. The $76 million overhaul aims to modernize water infrastructure across the city.

Texas cities are pouring millions into smart water meters to boost revenue and cut costs, but this widespread modernization comes with temporary service disruptions for residents and a new era of detailed usage monitoring. Ameresco, for example, installed an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system for the City of Mesquite, replacing over 42,000 water meters to increase revenue and reduce operational costs, according to Ameresco.

The widespread adoption of smart water meters will fundamentally alter the relationship between Texas residents and their water utilities, shifting towards data-driven management and potentially more precise billing.

Texas Cities Embrace Smart Water Tech

• Approximately 60,000 new digital water meters had been installed in Fort Worth as of mid-March, according to Texas Water Newsroom.
• The Fort Worth project will replace nearly 270,000 residential and commercial water meters upon completion, states Texas Water Newsroom.
• The City of Leander is collaborating with VEPO Metering for customer meter installations, reports LeanderTX.

Ongoing installations demonstrate the substantial commitment to smart water technology, with significant progress already visible in major urban centers and smaller communities alike. The scale of these projects signifies a systemic shift in how Texas municipalities manage their water resources.

Cities like Fort Worth and Mesquite are clearly trading immediate resident convenience and privacy for long-term municipal revenue and operational efficiency. The smart metering project specifically aims to increase revenue and reduce overall operational costs for the City of Mesquite, according to Ameresco. The strategic decision to trade resident convenience for municipal revenue prioritizes financial sustainability over seamless citizen experience, as evidenced by Leander's reported service disruptions. Residential meter installations in Leander will cause water service to be off for about 20-30 minutes, reports LeanderTX. Residential meter installations in Leander, causing water service to be off for about 20-30 minutes, highlight a direct trade-off between municipal efficiency gains and the immediate inconvenience for residents.