Analyze This: How Data Analytics Is Changing Water Management
In nearly every industry, quick access to more and better data is disrupting the status quo and solving challenges traditional systems simply cannot.
The same is true in water management. Big data can help facility managers save money, reduce risk, and increase efficiency.
Challenge: an aging infrastructure
In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released survey findings that highlighted a significant need to revitalize drinking water infrastructure. Estimates from that survey pointed to a need of nearly $500 billion in maintenance over the next 20 years. That number doesn’t include the infrastructure for heating and cooling, irrigation, or sanitation.
For facility managers, this has become a significant pain point. From original pipes to outdated methods of water management, many systems today are simply inefficient and expensive to maintain. Infrequent water infrastructure checks can lead to costly problems. The costs of an undetected leak or malfunctioning equipment, for example, can be astronomical.
This is where data comes in.
Solution: data and analytics
Data analytics is solving problems across industries, including water management. Participants in a BARC Research survey highlighted the following top benefits of data analytics:
69% said data helps them make better strategic decisions.
54% said data improves their control of operational processes.
47% said data helps reduce costs.
For facility managers, a major area in which data can help reduce costs is in smart water management tools and technology. Smart water management is increasing globally and helping solve industry problems. In fact, according to the recent Global Smart Water Management Market Report, the market is expected to grow from $13.8 billion in 2021 to $22.4 billion by 2026.
The report went on to state that aging infrastructure has generated “a huge demand for its replacement with smart water infrastructure solutions, offering precise control over water resources through real-time data.”
With the development of sensor-based devices, smart metering systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, we’re able to do so much more with our water management. Automating water management processes allows facility managers to reduce risk, increase efficiency, control costs, and boost effectiveness.
Benefits: how smart water management benefits facility managers
Smart water systems combine IoT, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Using sensor-based devices, a smart water system can monitor, control, and regulate the usage and quality of water. It also helps maintain pipes, pumps, and other equipment.
Smart water management systems include:
Sensors
Smart meters and monitoring
Alerts and reports
Predictive analytics
A smart system can essentially become the voice of your water. You can see and understand what’s happening in your system in real time, get ahead of leaks, and monitor quality, all from an easy-to-use, mobile dashboard.
Some of the benefits of a smart water management system include:
Reduced water waste
Lower costs
Improved water quality
Increased water system efficiency
Greater control and leak prevention
With the right technology, you can level up your water management and make ongoing maintenance easier as well. With data at your fingertips, you can control your facility’s water use in ways you’ve never been able to before.
Learn more about how smart data can create a watershed moment for your facility at aquanomix.com.