The Most Profitable Data Service Investment for Water Utilities?

Competition between data service providers in the water utility sector is tightening rapidly. With more solutions available than ever, it’s worth pausing to consider a simple question: which data service actually delivers the best return on investment for a water utility?

For many, the first thought is remote‑read water meters and their automated billing systems. They certainly have their value. However, based on our own customer experiences, a surprisingly strong contender rises above the rest:

an IoT monitoring device that tracks the development of blockages in the sewer network, paired with a real‑time data service.

This device tirelessly monitors sewer backwater levels and automatically alerts maintenance teams the moment thresholds are exceeded. Unlike human observation, it never sleeps, never hesitates, and never misses a critical moment.

The benefits are especially clear in locations where rising backwater levels can quickly lead to flooding inside a property. Preventing even one sewer flood can cover the entire investment many times over.

So the real question becomes:

What if, instead of reacting to the next flood, you invested in preventing it?

IoT‑based backwater monitoring can act as a quiet but highly effective form of insurance for water utilities—working around the clock to stop problems before they start.