EasyFill TM

A key issue facing the global water utilities industry has been the removal of unaccounted potable water from hydrants and standpipes by water carters.

Data Collect has been working closely with Water Authorities in Australia to solve this problem with a system combining propriety and patented hardware and software applications. The system is trade marked EasyFillTM and is subject to world wide patents

EasyFillTM provides Water Authorities and local governments with the ability to monitor water cartage contractors and bill them for the water they take. The system also allows those responsible for water reticulation system maintenance to cross check hydrant use with cracks or bursts in water mains. Since the system also reports drop off points, Authorities can verify that water policy restrictions and controls are being followed.

How EasyFill TM works

The EasyFill TM devices are composed of a GPS data logging communication device, a control unit and tank sensor. These are fitted to the water carters' vehicles. Once activated these send a continuous stream of data to the EasyFill TM System's secure servers.

The data received from the EasyFill TM devices fitted to the vehicles is received by the EasyFill TM application and converted into fill and drop information. The time the fill or drop occurred and the fill or drop location is also determined and recorded. At the same time, the information is monitored for various alerts and exceptions such as a carter filling up from a non-approved hydrant. This information is then made available as downloadable reports and screen displays through a secure web interface.

EasyFill TM will continue to workfor days even if the vehicles is in a communication blackspot. In addition, multiple layers of redundancy and back up mean that data cannot be lost or or the system go off-line for any significant period.

Mounting of the easyFill TM deivces on a carter's vehicle(s) involves installing a sensor in the tank and then installing the control unit and data logger and communications module. The installation is no more complex than installing a car stereo system or in-car mobile phone kit.

Once EasyFill TM devices are installed the sensor and control unit are calibrated the the vehicle's tank volume.

Like all good ideas, EasyFill TM is superficially a simple technology application. Below the surface however is extensive intellectual property in both the devices abd the software that has resulted from a significant design, development and trialling process. 

Benefits of the EasyFillTM System for Water Authorities
 

The EasyFillTM system solves the problem water authorities have in controlling and accounting for water taken from their reticulation networks by water carters. It solves this problem in a way that provides many other financial and administrative benefits.
 

1. Accounts for water used by carters
EasyFillTM enables “unaccounted water” to be reduced. It provides data on all water taken from the reticulation
network by water carters with EasyFillTM fitted

2. Reduce repair costs
Cross reference pipe leaks and ruptures with water cater activity.

3. Reduce administration costs
Reduce costs associated with processing manual logbooks, or with recovering, checking and processing metered standpipes.

4. Increases revenue
Under reporting and bypassing of metered standpipes is prevented. The honour system is replaced with an automatic logging and reporting system.

5. Enhances management of water carters
Provides a central database to manage water carters’ water permits, vehicle details and owner data.

6. Increases control over water quality and safety
Each load of water is tracked from source fill to drop points. Alerts are provided for potential cross contamination events.

7. Improves customer service
Answer customer queries or complaints about water carter activities in real-time. Cross reference water carter activity with customer complaints about quality and pressure.

8. Reduces liability
Provides a central database to manage backflow status, certification and inspections.

9. Hydrant Management
Problem hydrants can be marked as non-authorised in the system map displays as soon as they are identified.

10. Reduces water carter fuel and road usage
Water carters can take water from all approved hydrants rather than travelling to metered supply points. Their total distance travelled between fills and drops is reduced.

11. Rapid, low risk implementation
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model means that users can be on the system as soon as an EasyFillTM device is fitted on the first water tanker.

12. Low or no direct cost
Depending on the funding model, EasyFillTM can be implemented at no direct cost to the water authority.


Software-as-a-Service Model

The software as a service model means very fast, low cost, and risk free implementation. Users log into the EasyFillTM website and immediately have access to the information and reports they need.

Software as a service means that the EasyFillTM system is hosted on a central server and is accessed through a user’s normal web browser. Security is ensured using an industry standard secure data encryption connection (SSL).

Benefit of the EasyFill TM System for Water Carriers

1. Fleet owners can monitor their vehicles activities and jobs.

2. Operators can log in to see authorised hydrants to better plan their activities.

3. Manual log books or metered stand pipes no longer need to be maintained and submitted.

4. Fleet owners and owner-drivers can log in to their section of EasyFillTM to see records of the fills and drops they have done.

5. Reduce fuel costs and vehicle costs because there is no longer a need to travel to a small number of metered hydrants or standpipes.

6. Insurance discount opportunities as EasyFillTM can assist with recovery of stolen vehicles.

For enquiries about the EasyFill System, please click here.