Achieve operational optimization for sustainability, efficiency, cleanliness and safety. Operational optimization is a universal target. We have extended it to emphasize its value in a smart water network. Here are examples.
- Optimize water capture. A city might discover it is overdrawing from one source, and underdrawing from another. Correcting the situation creates a more optimized operation and a more sustainable water supply.
- Optimize water distribution. Analytics can ensure water goes where it is needed, when it is needed. Demand and supply can be balanced, so that water is distributed, consumed and reported with maximum efficiency. With smart meters providing data on consumption at customer premises, water pricing can move to a variable model to acknowledge that water is more expensive to procure in certain seasons and certain times of the day.
- Optimize water use. Smart devices can monitor conditions and assign different water grades. Some grades might be acceptable for your garden, but not for your cooking.
Automate fault and leak management. A smart water network can automate many parts of the leak management process. Leak management systems automate both the prioritization of repair work and the dispatch of crews. They make water systems more resilient to natural disasters and intentional damage.
Pursue predictive analytics. This universal target applies to water in powerful ways. By analyzing the data from a smart water infrastructure and combining it with weather data, cities can predict problems, such as areas prone to flooding. In some cities – including Rio de Janeiro – smart systems can monitor incoming storms and predict where floods will occur later that day, so emergency steps can be taken in advance.
Optimize energy use. Hydro-powered generators can allow real-time sensor operations and significantly cut down on operating expenditures.