IoT and Water Management: Transforming Water Purification with Cloud-based Solutions

By Anupam V. Joshi

The UN Sustainability Development Goals Report of 2023 stated that the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7-2.4 billion people in 2050, creating imminent risk of a global water crisis. Water is life, thus there are organisations and individuals across the globe working on the realm of water management, which is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the convergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and innovative cloud-based solutions.

As the world grapples with water scarcity and quality issues, technological advancements are becoming pivotal in finding sustainable solutions. In this context, the integration of IoT and cloud technology has given rise to a new era of water purification management, redefining how we monitor, control, and optimize water purification processes, reduce environmental impact, and create significant cost savings.

Need gaps leading to Innovation:

Water scarcity and declining water quality are global challenges that demand innovative solutions. Traditional water treatment methods, while effective to a certain extent, often lack real-time monitoring capabilities and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. The need for enhanced efficiency, reduced waste, and improved sustainability has paved the way for the adoption of IoT-driven cloud solutions in water purification.

Empowering water efficiency with IoT and Cloud Tech:

The integration of IoT and cloud technology has led to the development of cloud-based solutions like WAE’s “WATERNET,” which are revolutionizing water purification monitoring. This innovative solution leverages IoT-enabled sensors and cloud connectivity to enable real-time monitoring of water purification systems One of the significant advantages of this technology is its ability to track and manage water usage in real-time, regardless of the geographical location of the purification systems. Particularly industries like the hospitality sector have immensely benefitted from such advanced solutions.

eWATER operates within sub-Saharan Africa as a water provider. By integrating mobile money, IoT, and Near Field Communication (NFC) technologies, eWATER asserts its capability to effectively manage the supply of clean and cost-effective water, ensuring its availability at all hours.

In collaboration with SES Water, Vodafone UK has embarked on a project that employs NB-IoT technology to address water loss due to leaks. Approximately a quarter of the water flowing through subterranean pipelines is lost due to leaks. The immediate objective of the initiative is to curtail this loss by 15% within a five-year span, with a more ambitious goal of more than a 50% reduction by 2045.

Improvising efficiencies via Real-time monitoring:

Cloud-based water purification monitoring platforms provide administrators with a central hub / administration control from which they can monitor and manage all water purification machines utilized by a single business and access data. This eliminates the barriers of distance and enables efficient oversight. The platform offers insights into critical factors such as water savings, reduction in CO2 emissions, machine running status, and technical parameters such as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and pH levels. Additionally, it allows administrators to monitor the reduction in plastic bottle usage, a significant step towards reducing plastic waste and promoting environmental sustainability.

Putting your data to work for optimisation:

One of the key strengths of cloud-based water purification monitoring is its ability to provide valuable insights into usage patterns and trends. By analysing historical data, administrators can anticipate future water usage needs and adjust the purification process accordingly. This data-driven approach enhances the overall efficiency of water purification systems, minimizing wastage, and optimizing resource utilization.

Cost savings and environmental impact:

The combination of real-time monitoring, data analysis, and remote-control capabilities results in tangible cost savings. By identifying inefficiencies and addressing maintenance needs promptly, businesses can reduce downtime, extend the lifespan of equipment, and optimize energy consumption.

Furthermore, the reduction in plastic bottle usage, driven by data insights, not only cuts costs but also significantly reduces the environmental footprint associated with plastic production and disposal. Companies across industries are adopting Glass Bottling Filling Plant at their premises which is a state-of-the-art technology, where purified water is directly filled in reusable glass bottles, eliminating the use of plastic bottles.

Navigating challenges for future success:

As IoT technology becomes more integrated into daily life, the potential risks to data security have intensified, necessitating robust encryption and authentication measures to safeguard sensitive information and these challenges must be addressed side by side.

The UN SDG Goals 6 aims for clean water and sanitation for all and the UN along with different stakeholders have been a key propagator for IoT based technology transforming traditional systems into smart, data-driven networks that enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and resource optimization. As technology continues to advance, the collaboration between IoT and cloud technology holds the promise of a cleaner, greener, and more water-secure world.

(The author is Anupam V. Joshi, Founder & Managing Director, WAE Limited, and the views expressed in this article are his own)