Case Studies of IoT-Powered Smart Water Management
Water is an essential part of life. It’s necessary for our well-being and plays an important role in the production of food and energy. We use more than 70% of our total water consumption for agriculture, which means that much of our water goes into growing crops, rather than drinking it ourselves.
The good news is that there are ways to reduce your water footprint. Smart water management using IoT can help you save thousands of gallons per year by tracking and managing your water usage in real-time.
Among the numerous advantages of IoT technology is that it helps to maintain excellent water quality. Smart sensors can guarantee that equipment such as pumps and pipes are in good working condition. You may also dispose of wastewater securely and legally using internet of things development company technologies.
Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most prevalent real-world instances of smart water management systems’ amazing benefits.
Example 1. Water Quality Management
It is vital to monitor the quality of the water that enters our homes. Contaminants that are hazardous to humans may be found in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Water quality is likewise deteriorating as the world’s population and urbanization increase. In turn, IoT assists in monitoring and analyzing distributed water to guarantee compliance with regulatory criteria.
A water quality management system powered by IoT can efficiently address quality concerns. Simply compare. Without IoT, water samples must be collected and analyzed manually. This procedure is expensive and time-consuming since it necessitates heavy equipment and a large staff. In turn, IoT sensors may detect a number of markers such as temperature and turbidity. On a regular basis, operators get data from many samples. As a result, they may undertake remote quality checks on water reserves.
The City of Atlanta, Georgia, uses an Ericsson and ATbtechnology to monitor water quality. The Chattahoochee River supplies drinking water to 4 million residents. And IoT greatly helps with water quality testing. Its conductivity, turbidity, temperature, and thermometry are all measured via sensors
Example 2. Water Level Monitoring
Dams provide water for livestock and irrigation, as well as for many businesses today. They also play an important role in flood management and can help with river navigation. As a result, it is critical to verify that the water level at dams and reservoirs is safe and that everything is running efficiently. Traditional monitoring approaches, on the other hand, are time-consuming and complicated.
This may be improved by employing IoT for water level monitoring and dam control. Dams are monitored using ultrasonic, vibration, and pressure sensors. You may detect breaches in pipelines and receive rapid notifications using pressure sensors in particular. Dam owners receive early warnings thanks to predictive technologies. You may also view how much water is available in each reservoir. This may be particularly beneficial to irrigation.
You can also remotely control the movement of gates using a smart system. There is no need to deploy people there when extreme weather conditions, such as a flood or a storm, arise. If the water level exceeds a specific threshold, the system may determine whether to open or close the gate.
A ThingsLog level monitoring tool assists dam owners in Bulgaria in managing the region’s more than 100 dams. IoT sensors monitor the water level at each dam site remotely. If flooding is imminent, the system delivers immediate notifications. With smart technologies, there is no need to dispatch personnel to measure water levels.
Example 3. Water Management for Agriculture
In the past few decades, the world’s rising population has necessitated an increase in food production. But not only that. Food consumption patterns have also altered. This leads to an increase in crops all around the world, which necessitates careful water consumption. Water shortage or overflow can both have a detrimental impact on production. And IoT makes this process more efficient and intelligent than ever before.
A smart water management system for agriculture powered by IoT is now available to help enhance crop fields and assist farmers in reducing water waste. Sensors will monitor a variety of characteristics, including temperature, humidity, and soil moisture, to determine how much water crops require. Such sensors are attached to the sprinkler and the field in sprinkler irrigation while a smartphone provides farmers with regular updates.
IoT-powered agricultural water management will enable farmers to use less water to grow the same number of crops. It is also feasible to use less fertilizer, use less energy while pumping water, and save time and money on labor. Notably, IoT technologies allow you to monitor the water level in tanks. By using AI, you can plan agricultural tasks sensibly and in advance.
Galcon’s Galileo System greatly helps in irrigation in open farmlands and greenhouses. There are over 200 irrigation programs in an open-field variant. Farmers may monitor up to 50 main irrigation lines, adjust flow intensity, and plan their activities.
Example 4. Smart City Water Management
Before now, cities had to manually monitor water supply and use, as well as inspect equipment. The Internet of Things is here to deliver transparency and greater control to the whole water supply system.
With the use of sensors, a smart city water management system can collect real-time data that will indicate how water is dispersed across the network.
Smart meters also enable residents to make more informed decisions, consequently, cities become more sustainable.
IoT technology can also be employed to monitor the health of water equipment. When sensors identify leaks in pipes, operators receive notifications and may begin repairing the problem right away. You may avoid supply chain disruptions by using AI prediction. Failures that might result in serious incidents can be avoided. Water waste reduction will also save the city money.
The city of Cartagena in Columbia has smart irrigation in its public parks and gardens. The solution determines the quantity of water required for each region based on soil conditions, weather forecasts, and irrigation schedules. If something goes wrong, the system will sound an alert. It also detects leaks and displays their location.
Bottom Line
IoT is a game changer when it comes to water management. IoT-powered systems can help you optimize your water supply chain, reduce your costs, and improve quality. It also opens up new opportunities for companies and cities to collect and recycle wastewater. So if you want to make sure that your water supply is never in jeopardy, try internet-of-things today!