#Water Crisis in U.S.: Growing populations, rapid urbanization and chronic underinvestment

In a previous post about water conservation and smart metering, we highlighted that the use of advanced metering infrastructure can help identify leaks by comparing similar water flows at different points, similar to electric theft or fault schemes. Smart meters can also provide more awareness on usage and stimulate a conservation effect.

Xylemic Inc produced an interesting infographic about the water crisis in the U.S., the level of awareness among Americans, and some enlightening stats.

The water crisis is intimately related to the energy crisis, as most energy generation options are water intensive, as does hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") used in the natural gas extraction boom. "The World Meteorological Organization estimates, assuming the renewable water resources will remain unchanged, that the number of countries facing water stress will increase from 29 today to 34 in 2025."

Water Conservation and Smart Metering

With the world-wide economic belt tightening, municipalities are looking to reduce operating costs more than ever.  An even bigger concern is the scarcity of the very substance that is the ultimate requisite for our lives: water.  Though industries like farming and energy generation need to innovate to utilize less water, municipalities already have the technology required to reduce operating costs and conserve water. 

The same way that Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)  or "smart meters" are a key component of the electrical smart grid, similar technology can be applied to other utilities like gas and water.  In the case of water metering, remote connect/disconnect switching and more accurate, hourly interval reads can provide great savings and an enhanced customer experience.  Applications can include:

• Significant reduction in truck rolls
• Automatic detection of costly and wasteful water leaks
• Conservation-encouraging customer usage and bill estimation web portals with hourly interval data

Besides water metering data itself, the water AMI communications network wireless mesh systems can also monitor other end points:

• Continuous monitoring of sensitive ecological areas (condition-based versus periodic monitoring)
• Selective End-Point Monitoring of Water Quality
• Combined water, gas, and electric metering for an even better financial and social business case
• Substation, distribution, and demand-side automation

Further value can be obtained through the develop a municipality-wide network (which can include wireless, fiber, cellular, powerline carrier and other technologies) for other municipal functions for a more complete Smart City concept. Such applications can include a municipal mobile workforce network to assist building inspectors, police, safety and other employees to exercise their duties on the go with greater ease thanks to mobile connectivity.  Citizens and visitors could benefit from a public layer of wi-fi to increase accessibility to online education, government e-services, and much more.

However, starting with a more limited scope, such as water meter automation, we see can find success cases like Kansas City.  Whenever we hear of states like Florida and Texas struggling with droughts, we see that such measures could save much-needed water as well as reduce public costs, which could help alleviate public budget shortfalls.  When it comes to financing these projects, if the cash-flow is challenging, despite a favorable business case, there are investors looking for the more predictable returns associated with resource conservation upgrades like this one.