In recognition of World Water Day, Tantiv4 takes a look at how IoT devices can play a huge role in conserving the water supply around the world. To put things in perspective, the UN states that around 1.8 billion people could be living in absolute water scarcity by 2025.
It has prompted a knee-jerk reaction by government bodies around the world as they scramble to find new ways to conserve water. Traditional methods of water conservation such as mandatory rationing and citing violations are no longer enough to address the problem of water shortage. That is why a large number of businesses and families are now making a switch to IoT devices and sensors. Installing smart water sensors in business primises and homes is an effective way to leverage the Internet of Things technology to ensure proper utilization of water.
According to studies by the United Nations Development Programme, water scarcity is primarily caused due to poor management of resources. Most countries around the world, including the US, have ageing water infrastructure that is woefully underequipped to deal with the increasing strains of overpopulation and rapid urbanization.
The water industry, for starters, does not have an efficient water management solution that can ensure efficient water distribution management and prevent water loss.
IoT allows you to design a flexible solution designed for the water utility industry, making it possible to make smarter decisions with the use of correlated and aggregated data taken from smart water sensors located throughout the water distribution network.
Typical Applications of IoT Devices in Water Conservation
Most buildings are laden with a maze of pipes that are mostly hidden out of view. Pipes carry freshwater in and out of the building while also carrying raw sewerage out of the system. Because these pipes are hidden from plain sight, it often becomes difficult to detect leaks. By the time the leaks have been detected, the damage is already done. This is where smart water sensors come in.
They can be installed inside pipes in almost all buildings to enable prompt detection of leaks that are not obvious to the human eye. A water sensor can detect the flow of water when it shouldn't be flowing, sending prompt reminders to the owner of a potential water leak. This allows the owner to conduct necessary repairs. Furthermore, these water sensors also pinpoint the exact location of the leak to make things easier for the owner.
In the same vein, users deploy smart water monitoring equipment to collect data, including the temperature, flow rate, pressure, pH, turbidity, and more. It allows companies to analyze the quality of water in real time. The measured values from the sensor are then compared to acceptable values as outlined by the user, sending prompt reminders when the water quality is inadequate.
A Word on DetectIT-WL
Tantiv4's DetectIT-WL is a great tool that lets home owners and industries monitor potential leaks in their water supply. In case things don't go according to plan, the app sends alarms and notifications to the property manager so they can take immediate action.
DetectIT also records humidity and temperature settings and stores them to the cloud. The best part is that it can be customized and built for your specific circumstances, including water conservation, quality control, wastewater management, smart irrigation, and more.
Click here to learn more.
This quote by Socrates aptly fits our appeal on water conservation - "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."