Cities worldwide are grappling with unforeseen water management challenges due to rapid urbanization and climate change. The need for innovative water management solutions has never been more critical, as urban populations surge and environmental pressures intensify. At Grundfos, we believe that integrating cutting-edge technologies into conventional water infrastructures is the key to achieving efficient and sustainable urban water management for the future.
Urban water systems face numerous challenges, with much of the infrastructure in cities worldwide suffering from leaks and inefficiencies. According to the World Bank, up to 60 percent of water produced in some cities is lost due to these issues. Additionally, growing populations place increasing demands on already strained systems. This is a critical concern, as the World Health Organization reports that 2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water services.
These issues are highly pivotal for developing countries who are undergoing rapid urbanization, like India. India currently accounts for the world’s second most populous urban population. From the extant strength of 355 million, India is predicted to add another 416 million to already populous cities by 2050, reaching an urban share of 50% of the population. This unprecedented growth in urbanization coupled with climate change and pollution has indeed created an urgent need for some new effective ways of managing water resources.
For this purpose, smart cities are applying modern digital solutions relying on data, connectivity, and advanced analytics. Among those pioneering technologies of a digital revolution is smart water metering. Smart meters can provide real-time information about water usage, which can be used for tracing leakages at an early stage, faster repairs, and less water wastage. The International Water Association recently conducted a study that, after its findings, confirmed the fact that smart metering may reduce losses by up to 30% and operational costs by 15%.
These obstacles are particularly critical for rapidly urbanizing developing countries like India. Currently, India, has the world’s second-largest urban population. From its current 355 million urban residents, India is expected to add another 416 million by 2050, reaching an urban population share of 50%. This unprecedented urban growth, combined with climate change and pollution, has created an urgent need for innovative water resource management solutions.
To address this, smart cities are leveraging modern digital solutions that rely on data, connectivity, and advanced analytics. One of the pioneering technologies in this digital revolution is smart water metering. Smart meters provide real-time information about water usage, enabling early detection of leaks, quicker repairs, and reduced water wastage. A study by the International Water Association found that smart metering can reduce water losses by up to 30% and operational costs by 15%.
An example of smart water management is digital twinning. The virtual replication of the water systems helps utilities use scenario planning and optimize performance with sharper and better-informed decisions. The Singapore city led the way in using digital twins in water management. This entails an entire model of its water system, thus helping in better planning and the efficiency of operations.
At Grundfos, we have been testing those digital solutions in real life.
Our intelligent water distribution systems will help cities save up to 40 percent of non-revenue water and prolong the life of their infrastructure. In Denmark, for example, our pressure management solutions for utility company Aarhus Vand reduced water loss by seven percentage points and saved both water and energy.
Our smart pumping stations, with combined Internet of Things and cloud computing technologies, adjust in real-time to various demand scenarios with up to 50 percent energy efficiency. This reduces their running cost while increasing the carbon footprint reduction of water distribution by quite some margin. In one such smart pumping solutions project developed with Thames Water in the UK, the solution reduced usage of energy by 56 percent at the biggest pumping station.
Further, with repetitive increases in urban floods in countries such as India, it becomes mandatory to rely only on non-structural measures of flood management in urban areas as the structural measures are no longer serving the purpose. All those smart pumping systems, sensors, data analytics, and a variety of IoT technologies are now designed to improve overall flood management in urban areas. It will be able to use real-time analytics along with predictive models to deal with the development of floods and predict them, alert authorities, and be able to automate the redirection of water.
The benefits associated with these digital water solutions are very diverse. In addition to the more tangible benefits related to operation efficiency and water savings, this transformation fosters the resilience of urban water systems to the impacts of climate change. The technologies also endow management with an increased capacity for adaptive management options that allow them to respond much more quickly to changing environmental circumstances. It causes better quality of service and transparency, which increases customer satisfaction and trust in water utilities.
Digital technologies in water management hold promising prospects. We anticipate greater integration of AI and machine learning, enabling the development of more complex predictive models and the optimization of autonomous systems. Secure data management systems, inspired by blockchain technology, will enhance the reliability and security of water data. Consequently, we can expect increased citizen engagement in fostering a culture of water conservation and awareness through mobile applications and real-time information sharing.
The actual implementation of these digital water solutions will be based on cooperation between the public and private sectors. INVIT/MUDRA, AMRUT, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Smart Cities Mission are encouraging public-private partnerships for water management in India. More additional finance sources will be available, and the delivery service effectiveness will improve besides developing cultural aspects regarding the delivery of the service; therefore, adaptation becomes even more feasible and effective. In other words, digital water innovation solutions represent more than a new game of technology; they are critical ingredients for building sustainable and resilient smart cities. Dedicated to developing and implementing the technologies that ensure effective water management for the populations of urbanized cities all over the world, Grundfos provides leadership in ensuring that cities embracing digital transformation overcome their water challenges and build a more sustainable future for citizens. Securing our water supply for the future will call for the smart application of digital technologies across our urban centers, and we are proud to be among the most useful for this crucial task.
