Itron and WAF collaborate on first smart metering deployment in the country

To modernize and enhance water operations nationwide, the Water Authority of Fiji is upgrading existing infrastructure by replacing current meters with Itron mechanical meters equipped with Itron’s Cyble communications modules, transforming them into smart meters.

Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), which is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water, and Itron technology partner, Pacific Technologies, are working together with WAF on the first smart metering deployment in the Fiji Islands.

The meters are part of Itron’s smart water solution, which WAF is deploying to enable digital upgrades to its infrastructure and operations, and to help advance WAF’s goal of providing sustainable, cost-effective, efficient, and reliable water and sanitation services to its customers.

Deployment is currently underway, which began in May 2025 and is projected to finish in the third quarter of this year.

Itron says deploying its smart water solution aligns with WAF’s Water Sector Strategy 2050, which outlines five key outcomes the utility is striving to achieve by 2050: clean water, safe sanitation, livability and sustainability, financial sustainability, and a skilled workforce.

It says among the hurdles to achieving these outcomes is aging infrastructure and reducing non-revenue water, which WAF estimates is 47 percent of the water it produces/treats.

They say the Cyble module has a simple, clip-on design that requires no wiring or wall mounting, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for the utility to modernize its water operations.

It adds data from the smart metres will be collected via drive by using Temetra, Itron’s globally adopted, cloud-based, multi-vendor, multi-commodity metre data management solution.

Itron says the Temetra solution will enable the utility to collect and store water consumption data, eliminating the need for manual meter reading.

They say data can be easily accessed at future dates if billing concerns arise.

The Company says Itron’s Cyble modules, coupled with Itron’s Temetra solution, will help address the challenge of reducing non-revenue water by providing insights and advanced data analytics to identify both real and apparent water losses across its infrastructure.

They further say the Temetra solution will also seamlessly integrate with WAF’s existing technologies, offering a comprehensive view of the utility’s water infrastructure across the islands.

It adds that the integration will provide WAF with a holistic view of its water network and enable the utility to identify water inefficiencies.

WAF Head of Customer Metering and Installation Josateki Sivo says they have a long-term vision for the future of water in Fiji.

He says step by step, they are striving to improve water operations and create a resilient and reliable water network.

Sivo says one key benefit of deploying Itron’s Cyble module is that it’s scalable.

He adds that this allows them to expand their smart metering program gradually, based on their priorities and budget.

General Manager of Pacific Technologies (New Zealand) Limited, Danish Khalil says this is a monumental milestone as they continue to pursue their WAF Water Sector Strategy 2050.

He says the simplicity of the installation will enable them to quickly see benefits, including reducing and identifying non-revenue water loss, and they look forward to deploying this effective solution across the Pacific Region.

Sivo says they look forward to working together with Pacific Technologies and Itron and empowering our customers with water consumption information.

Senior Vice President of Device Solutions at Itron, Justin Patrick says operating on an island surrounded by the South Pacific Ocean, WAF’s infrastructure is exposed to fine droplets of seawater that are released into the air and carried inland.

He says this salt spray can cause corrosion on metals, and fortunately, Itron’s smart water solution is built to withstand these harsh conditions.

Patrick says their Cyble module can handle a range of diverse environments and is resistant to corrosion, contaminants, and temperature, helping WAF reduce long-term maintenance costs and avoid frequent meter or module replacements.

He says this deployment provides a practical model for smart water management, enabling WAF to upgrade its network at its own pace.

He adds they look forward to working together and helping WAF advance its digitalization journey.