Can a Smart Water Grid Save States from Looming Water Shortage?

March 31, 2010 By Russell Nichols

The United Nations warns that two-thirds of the world's population could run short of water by 2025, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office says at least 36 states expect to face water shortages by 2013.

Experts in the emerging field of water IT seek to use digital technology to cut water waste, save energy and reduce costs. Last year, for instance, the Water Innovations Alliance launched a smart water grid initiative with IBM, Intel and HydroPoint Data Systems Inc. that's intended to bring advanced IT to water management.

"The reality is that the way we have set up water systems in this country isn't that different than what could have been set up in Roman times: rough, brutal and old-fashioned," said Mark Modzelewski, executive director of the Water Innovations Alliance. "But when we think of a smart water grid, on the other hand, we have the day-to-day effect to use water more smartly, use the right amount of chemicals and pressure, and use resources to combine against satellite data. To have a system where water resources give us feedback, that alone without making a single repair, can save between 30 to 50 percent of water that the system uses."

Such technology can help water utilities automate water systems, detect problem areas earlier, give customers tools to monitor water use, provide more accurate rates and reduce demand.

Across the country, 68 percent of water utility managers believe the adoption of smart meter technology is critical, and one-third of them are thinking about implementation, according to a 2010 Oracle study, which surveyed more than 300 water utility managers and 1,200 water consumers in the U.S. and Canada. But as economic stimulus funds trickle down from the federal government, will this smart technology be enough to block an impending water shortage?

Technology to Go With the Flow

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Comments

Steve Serius | Commented May 6, 2011

I'll bet the person quoted here who's so concerned about "big brother" watching his water usage (as if they'd care) probably uses some combination of a smartphone, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Foursquare, etc. without giving a second thought to how his personal preferences and location info are being logged. But the second anything similar is connected to government, people start thinking of Orwellian "1984" scenarios. The public should be far more concerned about how corporations track their movements -- because large businesses are in a better a position to share that info, and have a direct financial incentive to do so. Local governments do not.