Austin Water Wins 2026 IDC Smart Cities Award for My ATX Water

AUSTIN — Austin Water has been named a winner in the 2026 IDC Smart Cities North America Awards, which recognizes leading practices and innovation in state/provincial and local government projects and initiatives. This recognition demonstrates how technological innovation, partnership and community engagement can solve pressing challenges. The My ATX Water meter replacement and customer portal initiative highlights Austin Water's innovative use of technology to improve customer service, increase transparency and strengthen long-term water sustainability.

Austin Water installed its first smart meter as part of the My ATX Water program in September 2020 to modernize the utility's water metering system and address long-standing operational, customer service and conservation challenges. To date, nearly 267,000 meters have been installed, enabling near real-time data for Austin Water customers. With the full deployment of our advanced metering infrastructure, the My ATX Water portal provides the following benefits to the community:

• Customized Notifications: Customers receive alerts if water use suddenly increases, indicating a possible water leak.
• Daily Water Use Updates: Data shows customers how much water they are using in near real time.
• Water Budgeting Feature: Customers can sign up for alerts to notify them if water use exceeds their stated threshold, saving water and costs on their monthly bills.
• Tools and Guides: Monthly use reports identify conservation opportunities to save water and lower bills.

Since 2021, customers have saved an estimated 1.2 billion gallons of water through leak notifications from the portal and their repairs.

"This recognition reflects Austin Water's commitment to preparing for the future by using technology in ways that make a real difference for our community," said Shay Ralls Roalson, Austin Water Director. "Our My ATX Water Portal gives our customers the power and tools they need to play an active role in protecting Austin's water supply, with our dedicated teams supporting them every step of the way. Together, we're building a more sustainable water future for generations to come."

The IDC's 2026 Smart Cities North America Awards were designed to celebrate the progress North American states, provinces, municipalities and educational institutions have made in executing Smart Cities projects, as well as provide a forum for sharing best practices to help accelerate Smart City development. This year's competition had a competitive set of applications across 10 categories. The 10 winners, one Overall winner and more than 20 finalists were honored at an awards ceremony at the Smart Cities Connect conference on March 11. To learn more, visit Smart Cities Connect.

"Organizations throughout North America continue to find new ways to provide services for their communities and improve the experience of working in, and with, the public sector," said Ruthbea Yesner, vice president, IDC Government Insights, Education and Smart Cities. "Every year, we see more advancement in the types of technologies and projects deployed, and it is a privilege to celebrate all of this year's applicants."

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of trusted intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight help IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is the world's leading tech data services company. To learn more about IDC, visit idc.com or follow IDC on X and LinkedIn.

About Austin Water

Austin Water provides safe, reliable, high-quality, sustainable and affordable water services that have met the community's needs for more than 100 years. Austin Water serves over 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area across more than 538 square miles. As Austin continues to evolve, our mission remains the same: To provide water for people and care for the environment. For more information, visit austinwater.org.