Water Stocks; Mueller Systems Announces Mi.Hydrant™ for Smart Water AMR/AMI

Water Stocks; Mueller Systems Announces Mi.Hydrant™ for Smart Water AMR/AMI
“Smart” fire hydrant takes center stage in communication grids connecting meter to utility distribution

CLEVELAND, N.C.--(Investorideas.com water stocks newswire, http://www.water-stocks.com/ )--Meet the smartest fire hydrant on the block.

“In today’s complex environment, information flow is a critical part of managing water flow”
.Beginning this year, utilities will have a cost-effective and innovative new option for building AMR/AMI smart grid communications for water management with the Mi.Hydrant™, from Mueller Systems. Mi.Hydrant uses radio transceivers built into fire hydrant caps to communicate water usage-related data that can help utilities improve efficiencies and customer service. It eliminates the need for costly utility leases and enhances the value of existing water infrastructure assets.

Mi.Hydrant is part of the Mi.Net™ Mueller Infrastructure for Utilities advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system from Mueller Systems. Mueller Systems is part of Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE: MWA), the leading provider of water infrastructure, flow control and piping component system products.

“In today’s complex environment, information flow is a critical part of managing water flow,” said Hassan Ali, General Manager of Mueller Systems. “Mi.Hydrant from Mueller Systems transforms the fire hydrant into an active part of a fixed two-way AMI network.”

Mueller Systems is the first and only provider to recognize that utilities can use existing hydrant infrastructure to be part of a communications grid, linking multiple components of a water infrastructure system; permitting utilities to improve information flows; and the ability to respond to customers’ needs. Mi.Hydrant systems can proactively identify and resolve critical issues around operational efficiency, water conservation, and workforce productivity -– before they affect service.

Mi.Hydrant is an enclosed transceiver that replaces the pumper cap of existing fire hydrants, blending aesthetically and operationally into the existing water infrastructure. It can provide multi-path radio frequency coverage. The device first collects and stores water infrastructure data in its own internal memory. Then, both on demand and at scheduled intervals, it transmits data to the Mi.Net™ Mueller “Infrastructure Network for Utilities” AMI system. Mi.Hydrant thus extends a 900 MHz public broadband, multi-path network for billing, metering and intelligent management of data and water.

Because many municipal codes require fire hydrant placement every 500 feet, utilities can take advantage of the cost savings of using what they already have. The Mi.Hydrant has a range of two-to-three times that distance, creating important communications links that can be built or be part of a communications grid for AMR/AMI from the meter to utility distribution communications, and back again. It provides a complete, end-to-end, two-way “smart water” network for AMR and AMI. Utilities can reduce equipment and labor costs and can eliminate the need to navigate the procedures, politics, and logistics of locating and installing additional structures on which to place communication devices.

The FCC-compliant Mi.Hydrant features open architecture, so while it is ideally deployed in a fire hydrant from Mueller Co., the leading provider of fire hydrants in the world, it can also be used with other brand fire hydrants. This empowers utilities to transition in a scaled, cost-effective manner. Mi.Hydrant can also be used to communicate data to:

•Increase operational efficiency for utilities
•Account for non-revenue water
•Reduce carbon footprint by streamlining labor and water usage
•Improve customer service through timely and accurate data
About Mueller Water Products, Inc.

Mueller Water Products, Inc. is a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of water infrastructure, flow control and piping component system products for use in water distribution networks and water treatment facilities. The Company's broad product portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, pipe fittings, water meters and ductile iron pipe, which are used by municipalities, as well as the residential and non-residential construction industries for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, fire protection, industrial, energy and oil & gas industries. With latest 12 months net sales through March 31, 2010 of $1.4 billion, the Company is comprised of three operating segments: Mueller Co., U.S. Pipe and Anvil. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Company employs approximately 5,100 people. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MWA. For more information about Mueller Water Products, Inc., please visit the Company's Web site at http://www.muellerwaterproducts.com/.
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