Making Every Drop Count During Drought And Fire Season

By Jeff McCracken, Director, Operations Management Outcomes for Itron

Originally published in WaterWorld magazine, June 2021

The year 2020 was truly devastating for wildfires. From California to Australia, the world got a firsthand glimpse into how warmer, drier conditions are enabling harsher periods of drought – resulting in longer fire seasons and greater water scarcity.

Significantly, more than 10.3 million acres were burned in 2020, compared to 4.7 million acres the previous year. These numbers, coupled with warnings of rising temperatures and increased droughts, present a harsh reality for utilities. The pressure is on to make every drop of water count. Preventing water loss before it reaches the end-user, also known is non-revenue water loss, is more critical now than ever.