Essex is using smart technology to improve everyday services. Essex and Suffolk Water, Connexin, and Essex County Council are working together to bring smart meters and better digital connections to cities and towns like Chelmsford and Maldon.
What's being installed
Connexin has installed devices called LoRaWAN gateways on street lighting columns. LoRaWAN, or ‘Long Range Wide Area Network', allows the data from devices, such as smart water meters to be sent over the internet.
- In Chelmsford, the first 50 gateways were added in December 2024, with more installed in early 2025. This helped build a strong network to support smart water meters across the city.
- In Maldon, the rollout started later, with gateways added to street lighting columns across the district. The devices are helping Maldon become part of Essex’s growing smart network.
Why it’s important
Smart technology helps Essex save water, detect leaks quickly, protect the environment, and cut costs. It also supports local jobs and businesses. Essex & Suffolk Water is using this technology to make the county cleaner, greener, and more efficient – directly supporting Essex County Councils environmental ambitions.
What’s next
More gateways will be installed across Essex. This growing network won’t just help with water, it could also be used for things like managing traffic, checking air quality, and saving energy.
How it helps you
People with smart water meters have used up to 20% less water and saved money on their bills. But the benefits go beyond water. This smart technology is helping Essex become a better place to live, work, and grow.