I became interested in water and the Internet of Things (IoT) several years ago when I had a below groundwater leak at home that resulted in a large water bill. Since I live in the Silicon Valley, CA, the high tech capital of the world, I thought there should be a better way to track water usage so problems can be identified and solved sooner.
The role of a Meter Data Management System (MDMS) is not well defined within the water industry. Many products on the market claim to provide MDM functionality, but few people understand the value of what these systems offer. To understand how this confusion has come about and what can be done to address data management needs in the water industry, we need to first examine the evolution of the MDM within a System for Water Information Management (SWIM).
As drinking water utilities around the country look to tackle outdated lead service lines, a new standard for replacement will help keep efforts consistent.
The U.S. is currently facing a water crisis. Potable water is scarce and considered valuable everywhere in the world. However, with the infrastructure that is currently in place, the U.S. has been squandering this precious resource. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, about 6 billion gallons of treated water are lost every day due to broken and leaky pipes alone.
White House Utility District (WHUD), Tennessee’s largest geographic water utility serving approximately 90,000 consumers and businesses, is using data to stem water loss and create savings for its customers.
The legislative body responsible for ensuring that the federal government remains accountable has recently issued a report on the nation’s lead contamination problem. Its recommendations may be what finally save the country’s drinking water.
Though the field of water loss management is ever-growing and refining, a validated water audit to disaggregate volumes and values of all loss components remains the essential first step to reduce water loss in a way that is economically sustainable, both for your utility and your ratepayers. With extreme weather events, conservation rate structures, and regional population shifts changing the face of business as usual, it’s time to get with the program.
For the second straight year, the Water Environment Federation Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) came to McCormick Place in Chicago, returning also to the city which launched WEFTEC 90 years ago. As always, it was a showcase of the latest technologies and ideas available in the water/wastewater industry, but each show also has its own "feel" that reflects the times.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) can be a critical tool for water utilities as they look to improve efficiency. But AMI projects often run into obstacles set by the public at large. A new study looks at ways that utilities can get their ratepayers on board with AMI.
Maintaining the water distribution system is critical to ensure customers receive the best water quality. An important maintenance task is to ensure water movement through the system. Dead-end mains, typically in cul-de-sacs, at the end of rural streets, or even in a looped line, are known problem areas for water stagnation, resulting in quality complaints. Residential neighborhoods under construction and large underpopulated developments often have slow-moving or stagnant drinking water.
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