The world of water management is evolving with the increased awareness about climate change, large-scale displacement due to natural calamities like floods, droughts, landslides and technological advancements that can better address the challenges.
According to market research reports, the global water treatment market is expected to reach US$ 81 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.4%.
Thanks to the penetration of technology in all spheres and water management and related sectors stand to gain from the innovations and technologies. These technologies can ensure better control over the quality and quantity of water being used. AI, IoT sensors, precision meters, and leak detection systems are breakthrough technologies in this sector. Technologies like 5G, blockchain, and cloud technologies also provide speedy and secure data for water management solutions.
Concept and Idea of Digital Water
The concept and idea of Digital Water are well articulated by the International Water Association (IWA), which is an all-encompassing vision to better manage water in all stages like providing safe and secure drinking water, stormwater management and wastewater management
It further states that climate change, namely climate change, population growth and increasing urbanization, and ageing and stressed utility infrastructure, cause significant pressure on water networks. The water industry and in particular water utilities, needs to adapt to meet the emerging demands of a dynamic, highly deregulated and competitive environment within the context of a changing climate. In such an environment, water utilities need to continue to deliver essential services including safe and secure drinking water, stormwater management and wastewater management.
IWA facilitate to bring in a paradigm shift to the next generation of water systems beyond traditional water and sewerage infrastructure. This vision is to enhance informed decisions in the realm of water management in a world moving toward an unpredictable and complex world.
What is Digital Water Treatment
Digital water treatment employs proven digital technologies to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of water treatment processes. Effective management of water resources, monitoring water quality and adopting optimal water treatment processes can be achieved with the help of digital water treatment technologies.
Improved water quality: Digital technologies can be used to monitor water quality in real-time, which can help to identify, and address problems and can increase efficiency by way of using optimised treatment processes, and reduce the environmental impact of water treatment, such as by reducing the use of chemicals.
There are several digital technologies that can be used for water treatment, including:
- Analysis of water quality data- Data analysis is increasingly being used to analyse water quality data. This information helps to make better quality decisions and can improve water treatment processes.
ABB extensively adopted digital analysis of water quality with sensors. They are well-placed to help organisations meet the dual drivers of increasingly stringent environmental legislation and the need to maximise profitability through reduced operating costs.
Monitoring water quality
With the advancement of sensor-based technologies, water quality can be monitored in real-time. It helps in optimising treatment systems and can effectively track the performance of water treatment systems. Sensors: Sensors can be used to monitor water quality in real time. Long-distance transmission of data from sensors helps to monitor water quality from remote locations.
For example , With thousands of water and wastewater customers around the world, GE Vernova claims that their software, helps their water and wastewater customers around the world by reducing costs, enabling remote operations, retaining history and operational knowledge, minimising risk, Ease regulatory documentation/reporting, Improving process efficiency and Increasing availability and reliability
Automation of tasks
Traditionally water treatment systems are labour-intensive and and call for the deployment of personnel who otherwise could have been utilised for other tasks. Most of the tasks in water treatment plants can now be automated using Artificial Intelligence.
SUEZ has developed technologies that guarantee the continuity of essential services and organise them to be prepared for and manage crises. They have put in place modelling the status of water in drought-prone geographies to maintain a constant and reliable supply of water.
Their digital solutions enable commercial consumers and Governments to study and manage their waste and energy consumption.
More and more players are switching to Digital Water Technologies for efficient operations of their facility, real-time monitoring, better utilisation of manpower and deployment of optimal technologies making the whole process economically viable. This is complemented by the decreasing cost of digital technologies and innovations in the water management sector.
However, a word of caution is also worth mentioning at this stage. Overdependence on data without clear mechanisms for addressing challenges could often leave unaddressed problems and challenges. This in a way could pose serious health risks, unexpected shutdowns and non-compliance with regulatory standards.
