What Does Smart Water Mean for Customers?

Smart devices have become an intrinsic part of our daily lives. From the smartphones with which we stay connected to friends and updated on current affairs to the smart meters which monitor our energy consumption to the smart TVs which allow us to watch whatever media we want on-demand, smart technology has greatly improved our standard of living in a wide variety of ways.

The same can also be true for the water industry. By implementing high-quality sensors across the national water infrastructure and leveraging the data that it provides to gain actionable insights, several countries are already experiencing the benefits of a smart water system. But what exactly does that mean for the consumer?

How smart water works

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the millions of smart devices which interact with one another and amass reams of data to better inform our understanding, facilitate decision-making and automate repetitive processes in our lives. When applied to the water industry, this entails the placement of smart sensors throughout the water supply chain, which perform continuous online water monitoring.

In practical terms, this means that the sensors can ensure water quality always remains at acceptable levels, as well as identifying leaks or malfunctions as and when they arise. Given that experts estimate around 20% of potable water is lost due to the inefficiency of pinpointing and repairing problems in the water infrastructure every year, that enhanced ability to solve those issues could incur significant savings.

How is the consumer affected?

Indeed, the latest report from the GSMA estimates that deficit could be eliminated entirely, while smart monitoring in homes across Britain could result in a 10% reduction in consumption per capita. That would result in reduced bills of around £10 per household. Although that amount does not sound impressive in isolation, it would cumulatively result in enormous savings – especially over time.

Meanwhile, the financial benefits don’t end there. Because smart water systems would be able to identify leaks before they even occur, maintenance costs could be slashed. In parts of the UK where the water infrastructure is publicly owned – such as Northern Ireland and Scotland – those savings would be enjoyed in the national coffers, meaning the funds could be used for other important means.

Smart water in action

As mentioned above, smart water isn’t just a fantasy for the future. In fact, it’s already in practice in several countries around the world, with pipe::scan water monitoring systems proving their value in three cities in particular. Capable of monitoring ten different parameters in a water system, including turbidity, temperature and pressure, the system then reports back to a central database, where insights can be gleaned and relevant actions taken.

To date, pipe::scan infrastructure is in place in Ghent in Belgium, Valencia in Spain and Vienna in Austria. For those interested in learning more about how the implementation of these systems has affected the customer in those cities, a Smart Water webinar on the subject was held earlier this year.