Water Submetering at Mercado Central de Belo Horizonte Brazil’s First AMI Project in Commercial Properties
Project Scope
wMBus
used in this project
Challenge
In February 2011, the iconic Mercado Central de Belo Horizonte became the first commercial establishment in Brazil to implement an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for water submetering. This pioneering project set a national benchmark for smart water management in high-traffic commercial environments.
Solution
A total of 390 volumetric meters were installed, each equipped with radiofrequency modules using the wM-Bus communication protocol, configured to transmit water consumption data every 8 seconds. This high-frequency data transmission enabled near real-time monitoring of usage across all shops, ensuring prompt leak detection and accurate individual billing.
Since the project’s inception, WiserMeter’s platform—operated through its partner seuConsumo—has provided uninterrupted monthly management and analytics, supporting both the technical and operational needs of the market administration and its tenants.
As of May 2025, with the batteries of the radiofrequency devices nearing the end of their life cycle after more than 14 years of continuous operation, replacement planning is underway. The process includes upgrading all metering kits to the latest generation of hardware while maintaining compatibility with WiserMeter’s robust infrastructure.
Results
This long-running project not only highlights the durability and reliability of the technology but also demonstrates the value of high-frequency consumption data in managing water use in complex, multi-user environments like traditional marketplaces.
Conclusion
This project proves that the platform is ready to scale and operate effectively in the U.S. market.
WiserMeter is fully prepared to serve the U.S. submetering market with a white-label, customizable, and service-based (SaaS) platform. Backed by over 20 years of experience in Brazil, WiserMeter offers a reliable and flexible solution for real-time utility management worldwide
