- How do I download my water use data?
Customers can download meter readings from the WaterSmart Customer Portal
- Click the "Settings" dropdown menu
- Click "Download Your Data"
- Can I get automatic notifications for Bill Forecast and Unplanned Use?
Yes, there are opt-in notifications for Bill Forecast and Unplanned Use for AMI hourly customers.
- Click the "Settings" dropdown menu and select "Account Settings"
- Enter "Phone Number"
- Click "Setting" and select "Communication Preferences"
- Check off the box(es) for the notification(s) you would like to receive.
You can get messages via email, text and/or voice message. These notifications are regarding your water utility account, water use and utility announcements.
Note: A customer must op-in to these non-leak alert notifications in WaterSmart communication settings to receive them.
- Can I get leak alerts?
For specific meters this is a newly enabled automatic feature through the WaterSmart notification system. If you have a single-family residential water account and have an hourly AMI enabled meter, a leak notification will be sent via
email or text if the system identifies a use of 8 gallons of water or more per hour for 72 or more consecutive hours. This exciting WaterSmart feature will notify homeowners of unusual water use and assist them in preventing unexpected,
high water bills. AMI meter Infrastructure has been established for approximately 50% of accounts and more are being added every month.
Learn more about leak alerts by watching the WaterSmart Leak Alert Workshop. The workshop discusses how to determine if you have a smaller than current threshold
continuous leak as well as when “data unavailable” may prevent a leak alert from occurring and what to do about it.
Leak alerts are not yet activated for other types of accounts such as commercial or multifamily, but they are currently undergoing evaluation.
Note: A customer must check, “unsubscribe from all non-urgent WaterSmart communications” in WaterSmart communication settings to opt-out of leak alerts.
- Why does it say, “data unavailable” or my hourly data is missing?
If your hourly data stopped displaying water use, there could be multiple causes. Water from rainstorms or excess irrigation in the meter boxes can disrupt signals and equipment may need a few days to dry out before signal transmission
can be restored. Meter boxes may also fill with dirt, a transmitter battery may die, or critters may chew through wires disabling data transmission.
WaterSmart provides useful supplemental information like hourly data, but it is not used for billing purposes and is susceptible to intermittent outages. Continue to review your monthly utility statement for the total water use for that
monthly billing cycle even if you signed up to receive water use notifications. You may want to conduct manual leak checks when data is not
available.
If you find more than a week has passed without any hourly data and you have been using water, contact the Water Department at 480-312-5650 and request your WaterSmart data be restored. We request your
patience for repairs as they are performed on a first-come, first serve basis and are dependent on supply availability.
- Why is my water use all over the place?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates the average water use is 100 gallons per person per day, though it may go up and down depending on daily activities. Included in that 100 gallons per day
is irrigation, appliances, general consumption, etc. Approximate gallons for different activities:
- Laundry: 30-40 gallon per load
- 10-minute shower: 25 gallons
- Outdoor irrigation: 100 to 2,000 gallons per day, depending on the watering method and the system size.
- Outdoor irrigation is typically the largest water use in our desert environment. Consider signing up for a free Outdoor Water Efficiency Check by calling 480-312-5650. A
Water Conservation Specialist will walk your property with you and show you ways to conserve water in your landscape. The customer must be present during the check, which can last up to 1.5 hours.
- Why does my neighbor use less water than me if we have the same things?
Oftentimes it is related to irrigation water use and/or a leak. Irrigation systems can vary significantly on how much water they apply to the landscape, even if they run the same length of time. Sometimes
there are indoor leaks, more visitors, or personal habits that can make a difference in water use.
For help on finding leaks, view instructions in the Smart Home Water Guide.
- What if the hourly water usage data does not match the amount on my bill?
Billing consumption data is pulled each month at a certain time and day depending on each customer’s bill date cycle. In contrast, the WaterSmart portal reflects 24 hours of water use data each day from the
previous day. Therefore, the two numbers will rarely if ever match perfectly due to different timeframes.
- Is the hourly water use data real-time?
The data is “near-real time” but not immediate. Data is transmitted once per day to the WaterSmart portal so you can view data from yesterday. The portal uploads typically take place around 5 p.m., so you may notice only partial water usage available for the most recent day. If you need real time data, it is always in best practice to read your water meter. To learn how to read the meter and calculate your water usage in real-time, find instructions in the Smart Home Water Guide.
- Water use occurred and I wasn’t home?
There are several reasons for water use when you’re not home. Often, it is the irrigation system or another timed device such as a water softener or automatic pool fill. Make sure to be aware of these
timed devices. On occasion, when someone is out-of-town, friendly neighbors may “help” by watering plants or cleaning driveways. However, it could also be an indoor leak; toilet leaks are common. For help on
finding leaks, view instructions in the Smart Home Water Guide.
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