The Water Crisis and the Call for Innovation
The world’s water challenges have never been more pressing than they are today. Climate change is bringing with it water scarcity and the need for resilient infrastructure. In fact, the World Health Organization reports that a staggering 25% of the global population already lives under water stress. And by 2030, that number is expected to climb to almost half of the world’s population.
Faced with these daunting statistics, the need for innovative solutions has never been greater. The good news is that many of the technologies we need already exist. But we need to accelerate their implementation to increase the resilience and water-security of communities everywhere. Our future quite literally depends on it.
Utilities Leading the Charge
Fortunately, water utilities are rising to the occasion and responding to these urgent challenges through a range of climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. In 2023 alone, we’ve seen three notable trends emerge across the industry.
Decarbonization Commitments: More than 80 water and wastewater utilities have set net-zero and climate-neutrality goals. These utilities are committed to meeting their ambitious targets with strategies that optimize operations while dramatically cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For example, Scottish Water has made a big dent in its carbon footprint by deploying advanced technology at 200 pumping stations across its network. The utility combined high-efficiency pumps and digital solutions to reduce energy consumption by up to 60%, accelerating its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040.
Water Reuse Initiatives: Utilities are also turning to water reuse to combat scarcity. The recent passage of legislation in California approving direct potable reuse was a significant step toward securing water supplies across the western states facing water stress. By decreasing the need to transport water over long distances and reducing reliance on depleted surface and groundwater sources, water reuse reduces the environmental impact. And the integration of digital technologies like advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has proven indispensable in sustainably treating and monitoring recycled water usage.
Growing Prominence of Digital Solutions: We’re also seeing the growing prevalence of digital technology on the global regulatory agenda, signaling a shift in industry standards. For instance, new rules set forth by California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act may require the use of digital technologies to meet the goals of local groundwater sustainability plans. Digital investments are becoming essential to achieving regulatory compliance as utilities align their strategy with evolving regulations.
The Power of Digital Transformation
Regulation and challenges are increasing, but so is the sophistication of the tools available to address them. In the next five years, we will see an unprecedented acceleration in the use of digital solutions within the water sector, surpassing the advancements of the past decade.
Now is a vital moment for the industry to embrace these transformative technologies. At Inland Waters Inc., we want to be at the forefront of this evolution. We prioritize innovation and the collaboration of the most creative minds in water to help solve the challenges utilities face.
But how do utilities get started on their digital transformation journey? Each utility’s path is unique, requiring trial, error, and patience. Take Silver Creek Water Corporation, for example. They began their digital transformation back in 2001 with a transition from manual to automated meter reading (AMR). This shift was initiated to navigate their growing customer base and high employee turnover.
But Silver Creek didn’t stop there. As they saw the results of digitizing their system, they made additional improvements in 2015 by upgrading to Xylem technology. This allowed the utility to manage and monitor meters remotely for enhanced operational efficiency and improved customer service. To this day, they’re still experimenting with new technologies, proving that digital transformation is truly a commitment to continuous improvement.
Utilities like Silver Creek that navigate challenges by adopting digital solutions are positioning themselves for future success. The journey toward digital transformation is not just a technological evolution – it helps shape the future of communities worldwide.
Unlocking the Potential of Connectivity
The water sector is not alone in its digital transformation. The agricultural industry has also been on the cusp of a revolutionary shift, with data and connectivity at its heart. According to McKinsey, enhanced connectivity in agriculture could add more than $500 billion to global GDP by 2030 – a critical 7-9% productivity improvement for the industry.
The key is to develop more effective digital tools for the industry and foster widespread adoption. As connectivity increasingly takes hold, these tools will enable new capabilities that can boost yields, improve the efficiency of water and other inputs, and build sustainability and resilience across the entire water sector.
We’ve already seen the transformative power of connectivity in five critical use cases:
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Crop Monitoring: Integrating weather data, irrigation, nutrient, and other systems can improve resource use and boost yields by more accurately identifying and predicting deficiencies. Sensors deployed to monitor soil conditions could communicate via low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN), directing sprinklers to adjust water and nutrient application in real-time.
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Livestock Monitoring: Chips and body sensors that measure vital signs like temperature, pulse, and blood pressure can detect illnesses early, preventing herd infection and improving food quality. Environmental sensors could also trigger automatic adjustments in ventilation or heating in barns, lessening distress and improving animal welfare.
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Building and Equipment Management: Sensors to monitor levels in silos and warehouses could trigger automated reordering, reducing inventory costs. Predictive maintenance systems using computer vision and sensors could also decrease repair costs and extend machinery and equipment life.
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Drone Farming: The next generation of drones can survey crops and herds over vast areas quickly and efficiently, using computer vision to analyze field conditions and deliver precise interventions like fertilizers and pesticides where most needed.
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Autonomous Farming Machinery: Precise GPS controls paired with computer vision and sensors could advance the deployment of smart and autonomous farm equipment. Farmers could operate a variety of machinery on their fields simultaneously without human intervention, freeing up time and resources while improving efficiency and precision.
The potential of these use cases is undeniable. But realizing that potential will require significant investment in connectivity infrastructure, particularly in regions where it is currently lacking. As the World Economic Forum notes, the fourth industrial revolution has arrived, and the water sector must embrace it to address the challenges of today and tomorrow.
A Collaborative Future
The journey toward a digitally-enabled, water-secure future will not be easy, but it is essential. No single entity can go it alone. Success will require collaboration, partnerships, and a willingness to embrace new capabilities across the industry.
Water utilities, technology providers, regulators, and other stakeholders must come together to develop the connectivity infrastructure and digital solutions that will transform the sector. Those who take the lead in this collaborative effort will be best positioned to thrive in the water industry’s connectivity-driven future.
After all, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Our communities, our environment, and our very way of life depend on the water sector’s ability to embrace the digital revolution. The time to act is now. Who’s ready to join the charge?
