Rethinking Water Management Strategies
Earlier this year, the United States National Park Service approved the Grand Canyon National Park’s bold decision to ban sales of bottled water within park limits.To some people, it might sound like a radical measure, but the park is actually just one of a growing number of institutions —most recently including the University of Vermont –that are considering bottled water bans in favor of waterfilling stations.
In the case of Grand Canyon National Park, water bottles make up an estimated 20% of the park’s waste stream and 30% of its recyclables. Not to mention that bottling and shipping the bottles to the Grand Canyon is incredibly expensive –both financially and environmentally.
The plastic bottles used to hold water are made with large amounts of oil; and the process of treating water uses a massive amount of electricity –about 3% to 4% of all electricity generated nationwide is used to treat water; and finally, the cost of the fuel used to transport the bottled water is exorbitant. By one estimate, it takes three litres of water to produce one bottle of water.
Amidst the heated debate over the merits of bottled water, one fact is indisputable: Water is becoming increasingly precious as demand surgesdue to the population boom, climate change and the ballooning demand for electricity (which requires a massive amount of water to generate). While the global water supply remains constant, the demand for water is fast outpacing the supply. In the last century, the human population has increased from 1.7 billion people to 6.6 billion people, and global water usage has increased at twice the rate of population growth. Today, one in five people lack access to safe drinking water, and up to half of any given water supply is lost due to aging, leaky pipes.
The most obvious response is to use less water. But reducing water consumption is not a simple matter–restricting bottled water usage alone is not enough to dramatically affect the global water supply. Instead, utilities, farmers, municipal governments, and other major water distributors and consumers, need to rethink water management strategies.
Data analytics may be one of the most efficient and least expensive ways of accomplishing that goal. In many cases, sensors are already in place, and finding new efficiencies is simply a matter of bringing together disparate data sources and looking at the integrated data from a new perspective. Water managers can determine in nearly real-time when, how much and where water is being used. If there is an abrupt abnormality in water consumption–such as a sudden spike in usage –they can investigate possible leaks and send repair teams out immediately, possibly saving thousands –if not millions –of gallons of water.
Technology can also be used as a preventive measure against water-related disasters. Using both historical data and real-time streaming data, water authorities can identify potential weaknesses in the infrastructure and resolve potential problems before they become expensive crises. If, for example, a pipe made by a specific manufacturer proves to be leak-prone, a data analytics system could immediately identify all the places where the pipe were used so that the pipes can be replaced before more leaks occur.
In cases where data analytics have been used, the results have been dramatic. Water usage at IBM’s semiconductor plant in Burlington, Vermont, for example, was slashed by 29% between 1990 and 2000; at the same time, manufacturing capacity increased by 30%. It’s no small feat given the amount of water used to make semiconductors. In order to get there, IBM installed a network of 5,000 sensors that gather data on any number of variables, including water temperature and water flow. The sensors gather one data point a second, or 300,000 data points per minute.
The auto industry, while completely different from semiconductors, also uses an immense amount of water in various manufacturing processes. By some estimates, nearly 40,000 gallons of water go into one car. While some automakers are beginning to look for ways to reduce water consumption, Ford Motor Co. has proven that it’s possible. The company cut water use by 62% between 2000 and 2010, and has outlined goal to reduce water consumption by another 30% over the next three years.
Although conservation on a consumer level is certainly admirable–and in some cases, very effective –much more can be done on a larger scale by managing the existing water supply more thoughtfully. The more information we have about water consumption, the better able we are to understand where and how water can best be utilized. We may not be able to grow the water supply, but we can be smarter about how we manage it.
Author’s Bio: Michael Sullivan, Global Lead, IBM Smarter Water