Smart Water: Water and Wastewater Management through ‘Smart’ Approach

Abstract

Water, the most essential part of our lives can act as an enabler and destroyer of life. The growing population prompts to an ever increasing demand of water consumption. In cities the water is supplied through an engineered water supply network. The water supply network is designed during the urban planning of a city considering the requirements of local population. The network is also designed to provide for the drainage of storm water during excessive downpour. Water supply management is included in the basic infrastructure of the city and considered as an essential part of civil engineering.
But so much so for the water management being critical city infrastructure, the recent pictures showing Gurgaon battling with downpour gives the grim image of Indian cities. Gurgaon or Gurugram, celebrated as a Millennium City, was overwhelmed by recorded downpour of just 42 mm. Amid chaos and the blame game, the lack of proper water management system and faulty urban engineering can be considered as the factors at play.
The term "smart” water can be expressed as the water supply infrastructure developed and maintained effectively through smart means like ICT’s. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be employed in the water supply distribution to introduce a smart water management system designed to provide consequential data related to water being supplied in city in the form of flow, pressure. The municipalities are facing the loss of revenue and an excess manpower costs due to the water wastage through leaks There are many smart methods by which ICT’s can be applied to upgrade the effectiveness of existing water supply systems. Firstly, the electronic Sensors or transducers can be installed throughout the water distribution network at the desired locations.