Itron Inc., the Liberty Lake-based maker of utility metering reading technology, says it has contracted to supply its water metering technology to Saudi Arabia’s National Water Co., which is installing it in the city of Jeddah, enabling the city to measure water consumption more accurately and thereby conserve scarce water resources. 

Most of the water in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second largest city with a population of more than 5 million, is supplied by desalination plants. 

Alison Mallahan, senior vice president communications specialist, says with Itron’s metering technology, RWC will meter roughly 141,000 residential, commercial, and industrial sites with wireless communication modules.  

“There are wireless modules that attach to the top of the water meters, which will enable NWC to gather meter reads remotely and to track and use water resources more efficiently,” she says. 

She says the single-jet technology used in Itron water meters is built to operate in harsh conditions. 

The company manufactures customized wireless communication modules specially designed for high temperature climates like Jeddah’s, Itron says. During the warm season there, from mid-May to mid-October, average daily high temperatures are above 98 degrees. The communication modules can be read remotely through heavy protective metal covers, reducing time spent locating and reading meters. 

The contract duration covers a two-year period. Installation of the water meters is currently under way.