From Mechanical Inaccuracy to Trusted Water Data: How Smart Metering Transformed Utility Operations in Guanajuato, Mexico

A large water utility in Guanajuato began transitioning from mechanical water meters to ultrasonic smart metering to resolve persistent issues with inaccurate billing, manual meter reading, meter theft, and limited network visibility. The project was implemented by Equysis, a local partner in Mexico.
equysis mainlink

Location: Guanajuato, Mexico

Service provider: Equysis

Meternet, Mainlink’s local partner in California, implemented Mainlink’s smart water metering solution at ICHA, a 1,700-unit residential development located on the UC Irvine campus. The community includes around 1,200 single-family homes and 500 apartment residences.

The Challenge 

The utility relied on mechanical residential meters, which created several operational challenges. Measurement accuracy declined over time, air in pipelines was sometimes recorded as water consumption, and leaks or abnormal flows were difficult to detect. Manual meter reading required regular field visits, while moving components increased maintenance needs. These issues increased operational workload and led to billing disputes with customers.

The Solution 

Equysis deployed a smart metering system:

  • around 4,000 ultrasonic residential water meters deployed (6,400 planned in total)
  • 3 LoRaWAN gateways providing network coverage
  • City-wide private LoRaWAN communication network
  • Data management platform

Mainlink supported the project with network design and radio propagation planning to ensure stable communication across the coverage area.

Results

  • Accurate, fair billing based on real water consumption
  • Elimination of air-related overbilling, a major source of disputes
  • Early detection of leaks and low-flow events, reducing non-revenue water
  • Removal of manual meter reading, lowering labor costs and errors
  • Stable accuracy over time, even in outdoor conditions
  • Reduced theft risk through composite meter design
  • Full remote visibility of the private LoRaWAN network for faster issue resolution and full control.
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