In an effort to increase transparency and bolster water conservation, South Salt Lake City has implemented a new digital tool designed to give residents access to utility data.
The system, called EyeOnWater, utilizes third-party software used by water districts nationwide to track usage and detect potential leaks. While the city has been promoting the tool since July, officials are hoping to have more residents enroll in the program.
“We've been doing our best to promote it so customers can track their water usage and help take control of their water bills,” city spokesman Joseph Dane said.
How EyeOnWater Works
The system relies on hardware that uses cellular technology to upload data several times a day. While it provides information on hourly, daily, monthly and yearly consumption, there is a slight delay in the transmission.
“The new hardware uses cell phone technology to upload your data which wakes up a few times a day to submit water usage data. So 'real-time' over 24 hours but not exactly minute to minute,” according to the city website. Data uploads typically occur at the same time every day, providing residents with charts, week-over-week comparisons and temperature and precipitation overlays.
Preventing Costly Leaks
One of the most vital features of the app is leak detection. The system identifies potential issues by monitoring for 24 consecutive hours of flowing water or water flowing above a specific "continuous flow" threshold.
To benefit from this, customers must manually activate the feature and set their desired threshold. If the water flow exceeds that limit over a 24-hour period, the system sends an automated alert. If the flow drops below that threshold or hits zero at any point during that window, no alert is triggered, preventing false alarms.
Breaking Down Barriers
Currently, city officials see plenty of room for growth in the program’s participation.
“We have over 100 customers who are currently using EyeOnWater, but we would love 100% of customers to use it,” Dane said.
Residents without a computer or smartphone can visit the computer lab at the Co-Op, located inside the South Salt Lake Community Center. Staff there are available to help residents set up accounts and activate leak notifications.
“We're working to remove barriers for customers,” Dane said.
How to Sign Up
Residents can get started by visiting the city website at sslc.gov or by downloading the EyeOnWater app on any mobile device. To do so, they will need their utility account number (including dashes) as it appears on their bill. Those who do not have access to that information can contact the city’s utility billing department at
Note for Jordan Valley Customers: Residents served by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District should instead use the "My Water" app available at jvwcd.gov/customer/mywater.
