Clayton County Uses SmartPressure Pilot to Prevent Water System Shutdowns

A new pressure-monitoring pilot with Orbis Intelligent Systems is giving Clayton County Water Authority real-time visibility into network performance, helping operators stabilize pressure, prevent service disruptions and prepare for extreme weather.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• November 17, 2025

Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) in Georgia is improving the stability of its water distribution system through a pilot program using SmartPressure monitoring devices from Orbis Intelligent Systems. The technology helps the utility prevent shutdowns, maintain system pressure, and react more quickly to disruptions caused by weather events or operational anomalies.

The move follows a severe 2022 winter storm that caused pipe failures, widespread leaks, and a loss of communication with CCWA’s SCADA system. With temperatures dropping to 12°F and then rapidly warming, the utility struggled to locate pressure drops across its 1,400-mile network, ultimately shutting off hundreds of service connections. The experience revealed a critical need for real-time pressure data to guide decision-making.

In early 2025, CCWA installed five SmartPressure devices in key areas, including near the College Park water tower, where pumping operations have historically complicated system balancing. The units continuously track pressure through a compact, battery-powered transducer that transmits data to Orbis’s cloud platform. Managers can now view comparisons across multiple sites, receive alerts when pressures deviate from preset limits, and better understand how local changes affect the wider system.

The pilot has already provided evidence supporting future infrastructure needs, including the planned installation of a 16-inch water main in College Park to maintain consistent pressure for both utilities. Integration with CCWA’s existing SmartCap leak detectors has also enhanced the ability to correlate pressure drops with possible leaks and prioritize repairs.

CCWA officials say the technology has been instrumental in preparing for the upcoming winter season, allowing earlier intervention before bursts or major pressure losses occur. The utility plans to expand deployment and may require SmartPressure devices for new commercial developments in the future.

Orbis and CCWA describe the partnership as highly collaborative, with near-daily communication and a shared goal of minimizing service interruptions for customers.