We have become so accustomed to turning the faucet and getting clean running water that we don’t usually give much thought to the intricate systems that work around the clock to support this simple yet vital action.
By the time the clean, uncontaminated water makes its way into our homes and businesses, it has gone through a whole host of water management processes that monitor, measure, purify, and transport it, ensuring that it has the necessary characteristics for domestic and industrial consumption.
What we don’t realize is the challenges water management facilities face in delivering this resource we often take for granted. The infrastructure that supports water networks is often aging, costly to manage, and susceptible to many challenges and disruptions. However, new technologies and data-driven techniques allow water management plants to alleviate the financial and resource pressure it commonly faces.
As in many other industries, utility companies are experiencing digital transformations. Using data from sensors, companies can gain better visibility of operations and the health and status of assets and collect invaluable real-time information to transform the management of water assets and gain insights for more efficient management, enhancing service delivery. These types of projects can reap significant benefits from tech-based solutions in minimizing disruption, reducing hefty maintenance costs, and improving safety.
AI and machine learning applications enable the consolidation of management of catchments, reducing the need for route-based monitoring techniques. Such applications can improve costs and resource utilization so organizations can invest in upgrading. Data-driven advantages in water catchments include:
- Minimized risk of flooding and pollution in real-time with intelligent control
- Minimized likelihood of asset failure by integrating prescriptive, condition-based maintenance and monitoring
- Reduced energy consumption and maximized resource recovery via the establishment of steady-state conditions
- Improved regulatory compliance and increased security.
Another significant benefit of data-driven solutions is preventive and predictive maintenance and monitoring capabilities, allowing for the detection of anomalies and timely corrective action. In predictive maintenance, data is stored and analyzed to plan intervention ahead of time and prevent breakdowns and costly repairs. For instance, leakage and burst pipes are major issues for water distribution systems. Applying data collection techniques via pressure and flow sensors means that the systems can detect anomalies, like a variation in flow pressure, comparing it to historical data collected by the system and automatically triggering an alarm.
At Arrow Electronics, we work with systems integrators (Sis) supporting data collection applications like Zotera’s water and wastewater pump station solution that combines IIoT and Industry 4.0 technologies at the edge for real-time monitoring and managing infrastructure, assets, and facilities. The solution integrates a technology stack of hardware and software components, providing complete insight into operations.
If you are interested in finding out how Arrow can help you design, build, and deploy data-driven applications for utilities, or contact us for more information.
