Riding the Digital Wave: How AI and IoT are Transforming the Water Industry

Riding the Digital Wave: How AI and IoT are Transforming the Water Industry - Leak Detection Gets Smarter with AI

Of the trillion gallons of water pumped through U.S. water networks each day, over 2 trillion gallons are lost to leaks annually. Detecting and repairing these leaks is crucial for conserving resources, avoiding service disruptions, and preventing environmental contamination. Now, artificial intelligence is enabling utilities to pinpoint leaks faster and more accurately than ever before.

Traditionally, water utilities relied on customer complaints or visual pipe inspections to identify leaks. Some also deployed acoustic sensors to identify the sound signatures of leaks. But these approaches provide limited visibility across vast pipe networks. Major leaks often go undetected for months, resulting in huge wasted water volumes and repair costs.

New AI solutions are transforming leak detection by analyzing sensor data to identify leak signatures. Machine learning algorithms can now detect the acoustic patterns of leaks and distinguish them from other pipe noises. This allows finding leaks proactively without relying on customer reports.

Utilities like the city of Las Vegas have reduced leakage over 50% by deploying real-time leak monitoring models from firms like Computrols. Their AI continuously analyzes data from acoustic sensors placed throughout the pipe network, with pattern recognition identifying even small leaks. Previously unfindable leaks get flagged immediately for repair crews.

Other companies like OptaSense offer fiber optic sensing cables that run alongside water pipes. These cables act like microphones with AI listening for leak acoustic fingerprints. Oxford University spinoff Vivax Metrotech uses ground penetrating radar paired with deep learning to find leaks underground. Their roving vans scan pipe sections and AI pinpoints problem spots for excavation, including links likely to fail soon.

Deploying smart water meters also fuels AI leak analysis. Meter data showing abnormal flow events provides indicators of possible leakage downstream. California water provider EBMUD found AI modeling increased verified leaks detected through customer meter flags by over 30%.

AI not only finds leaks but also optimizes repair prioritization. By considering leak size, location, and affected population, utility repair crews can address the most problematic leaks first. This AI-enabled strategic leak management maximizes reductions in water losses.

Riding the Digital Wave: How AI and IoT are Transforming the Water Industry - Monitoring Water Quality in Real Time

Ensuring access to clean, safe drinking water is a fundamental human right. But antiquated water quality monitoring methods have left public health vulnerable. Manual grab sampling provides only periodic snapshots of water contamination levels. Harmful toxins often go undetected between infrequent tests, risking dangerous exposure. Now, real-time water quality monitoring solutions are emerging to provide 24/7 vigilance.

New sensor networks installed across distribution systems allow continuously tracking water quality at multiple checkpoints. These sensors monitor critical parameters like pH, turbidity, and chlorine residuals to immediately flag any anomalies exceeding safety thresholds. Machine learning models can even predict emerging contamination threats before they escalate. This real-time visibility enables rapid response when water quality declines, minimizing public health risks.

One company enabling this real-time monitoring revolution is 120Water. Their digital water sampling platforms combine IoT sensors with cloud-based software to offer utilities complete network visibility. Battery-powered 120Water taps installed across the network constantly measure parameters like lead and other contaminants down to parts-per-trillion sensitivity. The results transmit wirelessly to the cloud for tracking via software analytics.

120Water’s system immediately alerts operators anytime monitoring identifies contamination exceeding allowable limits. This enables rapid response to mitigate threats, such as issuing boil water advisories or activating treatment modifications. Their AI assistant Tahi also monitors real-time sensor streams and warns of potential future water quality issues like rising lead levels. This predictive capability allows utilities to take preventive actions before threats intensify.

The city of Cary, Illinois has benefitted from deploying 120Water sensors at schools and public facilities. Their sensors sample water 30 times per week, compared to just twice annually previously. This volume of data would overwhelm lab testing. But 120Water’s real-time readings detect lead spikes immediately to protect children. “Having all the granular data has been amazing,” notes Cary’s water quality manager. “We can respond to issues within hours instead of months.”

Universities like Penn State also rely on 120Water to monitor their vast distribution networks serving tens of thousands of students and staff. One sensor near the dental school flagged high lead levels from old plumbing. Real-time alerts allowed Penn State to cut off impacted fountains and install filters until repairs were completed. This incident showed that digital water sampling is crucial for rapidly finding and responding to contamination threats.

Water quality data integration platforms like Cityworks also aid real-time monitoring. Cityworks aggregates sensor data with customer complaints and lab results for a unified view of water quality. Automated alerts trigger work orders when threats emerge. Cityworks customers reduced critical water quality incidents by 62% after deploying their smart water management software.

Riding the Digital Wave: How AI and IoT are Transforming the Water Industry - Optimizing Infrastructure and Predicting Failures

Aging water infrastructure represents one of the greatest challenges facing water utilities today. The average age of water pipes in the U.S. exceeds 45 years. As this critical distribution network decays, pipe failures and water main breaks occur with increasing frequency, disrupting supply and requiring expensive emergency repairs. However, new digital monitoring capabilities allow utilities to optimize maintenance and predict failures before they happen.

Advanced analytics tools like Ayyeka’s can monitor infrastructure health in real-time. Their remote telemetry sensors installed on critical mains and junctions collect data on flow, pressure, and leakage. This data feeds machine learning algorithms that model normal behavior patterns for each pipe segment. Deviations trigger alerts to deteriorating conditions and increased failure risk.

Ayyeka’s infrastructure analytics detected the early warning signs of an impending catastrophic water main failure for an Ontario utility by spotting pressure fluctuations. This allowed the utility to proactively replace the main before it failed, avoiding major disruption. The system provides utilities visibility into infrastructure health they’ve never had before. As Ayyeka’s CEO states, “by leveraging real-time data, utilities can predict where breaks will occur and mobilize crews in advance to minimize impact.”

In addition to predicting failures, smart water analytics guide targeted maintenance. Machine learning tools like TaKaDu analyze vast volumes of data from customer meters, pressure gauges, SCADA systems, and other sources to pinpoint overloaded mains in need of replacement. Other platforms like Dropcountr uncover underutilized pipes ripe for decommissioning to reduce maintenance costs. This intelligence allows prioritizing capital projects for maximum reliability improvement per dollar spent.

Some water utilities have reduced pipe failure rates by over 20% using advanced analytics to optimize maintenance. DC Water saved over $4 million annually after deploying an IBM monitoring solution. Their AI visually inspects pipes from inside, identifying failure risks and blockages. Targeted cleaning and lining then mitigate these failure precursor conditions.

On the operations side, platforms like Opti offer “digital twin” models of distribution networks. These physics-based models run millions of simulations to forecast pipe failures and model other disruptions. Operators can visualize scenarios and optimal responses. During actual events, the AI suggests fixes matching the real-time situation, improving response. Opti customers have cut restoration times up to 80% using their digital twin system.

Riding the Digital Wave: How AI and IoT are Transforming the Water Industry - Enabling Precision Irrigation for Farmers

Precision irrigation enabled by smart systems allows farmers to use water more efficiently while maximizing crop yields. Applying the optimal amount of water at the right times avoids waste while ensuring fields get needed moisture. As water scarcity increases globally, precision agriculture solutions are becoming crucial for sustainable farming.

New IoT sensors like CropX’s intelligence platform provide farm-wide irrigation visibility. Their in-ground probes monitor soil moisture and substrata data across fields. This granular data feeds into irrigation models identifying which zones require water and when. Opening the floodgates on a preset schedule misses dry spots. But precision irrigation allows targeting water just where and when it’s beneficial.

CropX details how their smart systems save water on a large carrot farm in California’s Central Valley. Previous inefficient irrigation there wasted over 15% of water due to uneven application. But CropX probes optimized the schedule based on crop needs, reducing water use over 20% while increasing carrot yields 4%. The farmer recouped the cost within one season.

The Israeli startup Tal-Ya tailored similar technology for arid environments. Their mobile probes scout farm moisture variability and an AI platform adjusts irrigation to match. Tal-Ya tripled farmers’ meager date harvests by avoiding over and under-watering. Their precision technology works amid even highly saline, sandy soils where retention is poor.

Remote imaging also fuels efficient irrigation. TerrAvion’s drone and satellite monitoring reveals how water is moving across fields. Thermal and NDVI imagery pinpoints dry areas needing irrigation versus adequately watered zones. TerrAvion says farms using their tools have cut water usage over 15% by revealing irrigation weak spots.

Smart water systems pay dividends especially with high-value produce where even minor yield gains offset tech costs. For citrus grower Robert Curtis, deploying Seventeen irrigation sensors upped orange revenues 10%. He credits the sensors for optimizing irrigation despite yearly weather shifts: “Now we apply water based on trees’ needs, not guessing.”

Likewise, nut producer John Duarte uses Pix4D imagery to identify moisture variability across his orchards. He explains how matching irrigation to tree requirements increased almond yields over 20%: “You have to manage each acre individually. With precision tech, we’re using just the water the crop needs.”

Riding the Digital Wave: How AI and IoT are Transforming the Water Industry - Personalized Usage Insights for Consumers

Empowering consumers with personalized insights into their home water usage allows them to take control of conservation. Traditional water billing offers little visibility into where, when, and how households consume water across all their fixtures and appliances. But new smart home water monitors detail personalized usage to drive efficiency.

Amphiro’s intelligent sensors clamp onto pipes feeding washers, showers, toilets and more to trace water volumes used by each. Sanjay, an early user of Amphiro’s system, was amazed to learn his outdated washer guzzled over 40 gallons per load. “The data opened my eyes to the big time and money savings from an energy-efficient replacement,” he said.

The Amphiro app breaks down usage by source and person. Sanjay’s son was shocked to discover his 30-minute showers used over 80 gallons daily. “Seeing my shower usage motivated me to cut back to 5-10 minutes maximum,” he noted. “Our home’s daily usage dropped over 25% thanks to Amphiro.”

Likewise, the Phyn Plus smart monitor installed on main water lines itemizes indoor and outdoor usage. Leak alerts from Phyn also helped homeowner Taylor P. save thousands of gallons annually. “Little drips add up fast,” she said. “Fixing them allowed big savings.” Phyn’s app further empowered Taylor to set conservation goals and track progress. “Targeting 150 gallons per person daily kept me mindful of wasting water brushing teeth, doing laundry, or watering plants.”

Utility provider Thames Water is now rewarding customers for reducing usage after providing household smart meters. Their trial demonstrated personalized consumption feedback curbed average home water demand over 5%, even without increased rates. One Thames Water client noted, “Seeing exactly how much we used each day made us reflect on where we waste water like long showers. We started actively trying to lower usage.” Getting a push notification after hitting their 150-gallon daily goal provided a “sense of achievement,” further motivating conservation.

Neil, an Arizona homeowner who deployed the Flume smart water monitor, also attests to the power of personal usage insights. “I didn’t think we were big water users until seeing the data,” he said. By revealing specific activities driving consumption like irrigation, Flume helped Neil’s family cut usage 20% within weeks by adjusting sprinkler schedules and shortening showers. Neil now checks the Flume app daily like a fitness tracker. “Monitoring usage keeps us vigilant about wasting this precious resource,” he said.

Riding the Digital Wave: How AI and IoT are Transforming the Water Industry - Automating Meter Reading and Billing

For water utilities, manually reading customer meters for billing is hugely labor intensive. Teams must physically inspect every meter monthly or quarterly to gather usage data. This effort represents up to 50% of a utility’s operating costs. But automating meter reading with smart systems dramatically cuts costs while enabling usage-based pricing and faster billing.

Legacy manual meter reading requires fleets of inspectors covering vast neighbourhoods. Meters are often hard to access, subjecting staff to risks like dog bites. Yet even with large teams, utilities struggle meeting monthly reading deadlines. Gaps between readings leave billing estimates error-prone.

In contrast, smart meters transmit readings digitally in real time. Sensors record usage hourly or daily and transmit data wirelessly to the utility. This automation eliminates site visits to read meters. Utilities like Thames Water slashed inspection staff by 75% after smart meter rollout. Meter readers were reassigned to value-added leak detection and customer service roles.

For customers, bills based on manual periodic readings provide little visibility into consumption between lengthy intervals. But smart meters empower usage-based billing, with rates reflecting true hourly or daily demand. Customers gain complete transparency into when and how they consume water, allowing efficiency improvements. Alerts notify households of abnormal usage indicating leaks.

London utility Thames Water highlighted how smart meters enabled reforms improving customer satisfaction. Monthly smart meter readings reduced billing complaints by over one-third compared to sporadic manual inspection. Accurate usage data from smart meters also qualified over 10% of Thames Water customers for lower volume-based rates. This equitability and transparency explain why over 80% of Thames Water clients prefer smart meters.

North Carolina utility Charlotte Water has also reaped benefits from smart metering. Their meter data management system integrates usage feeds from over 300,000 smart meters for streamlined billing. Automated hourly readings prevent revenue leaks between infrequent inspections. And customers gained online access to their usage, water costs and billing history.

In Corpus Christi, Texas, smart meters provided critical usage visibility after a chemical spill contaminated tap water. Residents were instructed to boil water for a month. Daily smart meter readings pinpointed homes still consuming unboiled water, allowing the utility to urgently reach out. Manual meter reading would have left these at-risk households unidentified.

Riding the Digital Wave: How AI and IoT are Transforming the Water Industry - Managing Supply Chains and Logistics

Efficiently managing water supply chains and logistics poses immense challenges for utilities due to the vast scale and distributed nature of their operations. Water travels hundreds of miles through complex interconnected infrastructure from source to tap. Keeping storage reservoirs filled, treatment plants running, and pipes pressurized requires coordinating myriad assets and work teams across a wide geography. Response teams must be mobilized and materials deployed swiftly during disruptions. However, new supply chain optimization technologies are enabling utilities to gain unprecedented visibility and automation in managing these intricate water delivery networks.

Boston Water and Sewer Commission relies on ERP platforms to coordinate purchasing and logistics. Their SAP integrated system tracks inventory of spare parts like pipes and valves across multiple warehouses. When work crews need supplies for infrastructure projects or emergency repairs, optimized routing guides efficient dispatch from nearby stockpiles. The ERP also automates reordering to ensure continual replenishment. Previously, incomplete inventory visibility meant expensive redundant purchases when cheaper stock was already available nearby.

GE’s Water Resource Center solution provides utilities an operations “command center” applying AI to supply chain challenges. Flexible dashboards track key performance indicators across treatment plants like chemical stocks, equipment efficiency, and water quality. When anomalies occur indicating brewing issues, recommended actions prompt operators to prevent disruptions. During emergencies like main breaks, the system activates crisis protocols to guide crews and mobilize resources. GE estimates optimized asset coordination reduces water supply downtime over 20% for utilities.

Some utilities also implement predictive maintenance to avoid supply chain pain from unplanned repairs. Analytics firm TaKaDu analyzes sensor telemetry across the water network to anticipate where equipment failures are imminent. Their AI spots early warning signs like surging pump vibration. Rather than reacting to sudden breakdowns, utilities can preemptively schedule maintenance during low-demand periods. Planning repairs before catastrophe hits optimizes labor allocation and prevents scrambling for parts when stocks run low. TaKaDu clients have cut emergency maintenance costs over 30% through supply chain foresight.

Riding the Digital Wave: How AI and IoT are Transforming the Water Industry - Protecting from Cyber Threats and System Attacks

Water utilities face escalating risks of cyber attacks that could disrupt critical operations and endanger public health. As water distribution and treatment networks rely more on connected sensors, SCADA controls, and other digitized systems, they expand the attack surface for hackers. A single breach could enable terrorists or rogue states to contaminate supplies, trigger widespread outages, or instigate catastrophic infrastructure failures. Bolstering cyber defenses is crucial.

Unfortunately, many utilities lag securing their operational technology against threats. A survey by industrial cyber firm Dragos found over 75% of water and wastewater utilities lack fundamental protections like network segmentation to contain intrusions. Many also still run outdated hardware and software vulnerable to exploits like the Windows XP bugs used in WannaCry ransomware attacks. This digital insecurity heightens the havoc hackers could unleash by gaining access to treatment plants or distribution systems.

Strengthening immunities requires integrating IT and OT teams to jointly develop cyber strategies. IT groups understand software vulnerabilities, while OT engineers know unique risks in industrial control systems. A unified approach allows implementing advanced measures tailored for hybrid physical-digital water networks. Steps like micro-segmenting networks, restricting Internet access, and monitoring ICS traffic flows defend against attacks reaching critical systems. Regular penetration testing also identifies weaknesses to address.

Vigilant monitoring and immediate response plans are equally critical. An AI-powered Security Operations Center (SOC) by firms like Dragos tracks all network activity, detecting telltale signs of malware and anomalous behavior indicative of intrusions. Around-the-clock threat hunting prevents hacks going undiscovered. And ensuring incident response plans are rehearsed allows quickly neutralizing threats before they escalate into disruptions. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency advises assuming breach is inevitable – resilience depends on detecting and reacting swiftly.

Some pioneering utilities are exploring cybersecurity frameworks tailored to water systems. American Water relies on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to continually evaluate and strengthen protections across their vast footprint. Compliance audits validate controls are implemented properly. American Water also works closely with the Department of Homeland Security to rapidly address identified vulnerabilities before they are exploitable.