Texas Taps into Smart Water Tech to Boost Resilience and Efficiency

GREATER HOUSTON, TX – June 23, 2026 – Two Texas communities are embarking on a significant technological leap to modernize one of their most vital resources. The cities of Baytown and Shenandoah are partnering with energy infrastructure provider Ameresco to deploy a state-of-the-art Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, a combined investment of over $5 million aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, conserving water, and providing residents with unprecedented control over their usage.

This initiative moves beyond simply replacing old meters. It represents a strategic shift towards a data-driven approach to utility management. The AMI technology establishes a two-way communication network between the utility and each water meter, replacing outdated manual or drive-by readings with a constant stream of near real-time data. For these Houston-area cities, the investment is a proactive measure to build more resilient and efficient water systems in a state where resource management is an ever-growing priority.

A New Era of Transparency for Residents

For the citizens of Baytown and Shenandoah, the most tangible change will arrive in the form of a customer web portal. This digital tool will empower them to track their water consumption on an hourly basis, a stark contrast to the traditional monthly bill which offers little insight into daily habits. Residents will be able to set usage alerts, identify potential leaks early, and make informed decisions to manage their consumption and lower their bills.

“For the first time, Baytonians will have direct access to their own water usage data, bringing greater transparency and a stronger connection to how their city serves them,” said Jason Reynolds, Baytown’s City Manager. This direct access is designed to build confidence in billing accuracy and strengthen public trust in utility operations.

In Shenandoah, the project involves the replacement or retrofit of over 1,700 water meters with advanced solid-state units. The city’s previous Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system had reached the end of its useful life, prompting the upgrade to the more sophisticated AMI technology. Installation is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.

Baytown is taking a phased approach, starting with its residential meters. After an initial successful replacement of 5,000 meters, the city is now preparing to upgrade an additional 13,000 units, a process expected to take 12 to 18 months. The goal is to bring the benefits of smart metering to all its residential customers, enhancing the city's ability to respond quickly to inquiries and resolve issues.

Modernizing Municipal Operations for a Digital Age

From the perspective of municipal administrators, the AMI projects are a powerful tool for operational excellence. The new system eliminates the need for manual meter reading, a labor-intensive and costly process that also contributes to a larger carbon footprint through vehicle use. With hourly consumption data flowing into their systems, utility departments gain a high-resolution view of their entire water network.

“Investing in AMI technology allows Shenandoah to modernize critical infrastructure while improving service for our residents,” stated Sam Masiel, Shenandoah’s City Administrator. “With near real-time data and enhanced system visibility, we can reduce water loss, respond faster to issues, and deliver a better overall customer experience.”

Ameresco is providing a turnkey solution that includes not only the meters and network infrastructure but also the crucial integration with each city's billing platform and long-term operational support. This comprehensive approach ensures the technology delivers sustained value. The investment, funded through mechanisms like Certificates of Obligation in Baytown and city budget allocations in Shenandoah, signals a firm commitment to long-term strategic planning rather than short-term fixes.

“These projects reflect the growing focus across Texas communities on investing in water infrastructure that delivers real, operational value today,” said Louis Maltezos, Co-President of Ameresco. “By deploying AMI technology in Baytown and Shenandoah, we’re helping cities improve efficiency, strengthen customer trust, and better manage one of their most critical resources.”

A Strategic Move for Water Resilience in a Thirsty State

This technological upgrade is situated within the broader context of Texas's ongoing water challenges. As the state grapples with population growth and the effects of climate change, the need for robust and efficient water infrastructure has never been more critical. AMI technology is a key component of this effort, primarily through its ability to rapidly detect leaks.

Non-revenue water—water that is treated and distributed but lost to leaks or inaccurate metering before it can be billed—is a major financial and environmental drain on utilities. The new system’s proactive alerts can pinpoint leaks within hours, allowing for swift repairs that can save millions of gallons of water annually. While specific projections for Baytown and Shenandoah are not yet public, similar AMI implementations in other Texas communities have demonstrated the potential, with some achieving reductions in non-revenue water of nearly 60%.

This local action aligns with a national push for infrastructure modernization, supported by initiatives like the EPA's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has allocated over $50 billion to upgrade America's water systems. By investing in smart technology, Baytown and Shenandoah are not only improving their local services but also contributing to a more sustainable water future for the region.

The Foundation for Smarter Cities

Beyond the immediate benefits to water management, these AMI projects lay a foundational data layer for broader smart city applications. While the current focus is on water, the robust communication network and data analytics platform can potentially be leveraged for other municipal services in the future, from smart street lighting to waste management.

Ameresco, selected for its role as a technology-agnostic system integrator, brings experience from a wide range of energy and infrastructure projects. This allows the cities to implement a solution tailored to their specific needs rather than being locked into a single proprietary technology. This flexibility is crucial as they look toward future innovations.

“This is exactly the kind of investment that strengthens Baytown’s foundation,” Reynolds added. “By modernizing our water infrastructure with AMI technology, we are gaining real-time, data-driven visibility to operate more efficiently, detect issues faster, and plan smarter for the future.”

As the new meters are installed and the data begins to flow, these two Texas cities will serve as a model for how targeted technological investments can yield significant returns. The projects demonstrate a clear path for municipalities to enhance customer service, achieve operational savings, and build the resilient infrastructure necessary to thrive in the 21st century.