Itron Inc. announced that Malta's Water Services Corp., water provider to 400,000 residents and more than one million annual tourists in the Mediterranean's island of Malta, has expanded its contract with Itron as a part of Malta's nationwide water grid. The utility has successfully installed 120,000 Itron smart water meters and has signed a contract for an additional 33,000. The meters, as part of the smart water grid program, and are helping increase operational efficiency and improve customer service. Lacking significant natural water resources, Malta is faced with the challenge of delivering an affordable, secure water supply to its residents. Itron's smart water metering technology provides a foundation for Malta to improve operational efficiency, increase system reliability and enable residents to track and manage their consumption activity, ultimately allowing for better management of precious water reserves.