Broken Arrow launches ‘WaterSmart’ portal for real-time water usage tracking

A first-of-its-kind utility system is launching in Oklahoma that will allow Broken Arrow customers to view their water usage in near real-time, right down to the hour.

The City of Broken Arrow is unveiling its new WaterSmart customer portal on May 7, offering a dramatic upgrade in transparency, control and service.

Before the launch, the City’s current online payment system will shut down on May 5. Online bill pay will remain temporarily unavailable until WaterSmart is live.

Real-time tracking puts power in customers' hands

WaterSmart’s biggest feature is its real-time water usage dashboard, giving users access to data from one year down to one hour. That granularity will help customers monitor water use, catch problems quickly and avoid surprise bills.

"I think our citizens should be very excited about this new technology," said Mayor Debra Wimpee. "They’ll be empowered to view their water usage, check for leaks and set up alert notifications through the online portal."

Vice Mayor Johnnie Parks, a retired plumbing contractor, emphasized the tool’s practical benefits.

"Most leaks start small. This will alert you early," Parks said. "If a toilet flapper gets stuck, it could run your bill up $50 to $100 a month. Now, the system will tell you something’s happening."

New features beyond just viewing usage

Through WaterSmart, users can also:

1. Pay bills online
2. Report outages
3. View billing history
4. Compare water usage trends
5. Create user profiles for customized alerts

Years of planning led to the rollout

The system is the result of nearly a decade of planning and upgrades. The city began converting all 42,000 residential and commercial meters to automated meter readers (AMRs) in 2016. The final phase of AMR installation wrapped in 2023.

Next came the setup of 28 Neptune 360 gateway receivers across Broken Arrow, which now collect and transmit meter data via cellular signal—eliminating the need for manual meter readings.

"This took us from technicians driving through neighborhoods to a cellular-based system," said Utilities Director Timothy Robins. "Instead of waiting a month or more for data, now we get it in 24 hours."

A custom-built customer dashboard

Broken Arrow partnered with VertexOne to power the WaterSmart portal, integrating it with the Neptune 360 system and the Paymentus billing platform already familiar to residents.

"This gives customers detailed water reports and smart analytics," Robins said. "The system compares usage data with the user’s profile and generates easy-to-read insights."

What customers need to do

When the WaterSmart portal launches on Tuesday, May 7, residents should visit BrokenArrowOK.gov/Utility-Billing to register for a new account.

Customers who use the same email address tied to their old accounts will retain access to their usage history.