Smart Water Solutions for the Operation and Management of a Water Supply System in Aracatuba, Brazil

Abstract

Because of population growth, rapid urbanization, and climate change, many water supply utilities globally struggle to provide water that is safe to drink. A particular problem is the aging of the water supply facilities, which is exacerbated by their inefficient operation and maintenance (O&M). For this reason, many water utilities have recently been actively adopting intelligent and integrated water supply O&M solutions that utilize information and communication technology, the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence to solve water supply system problems. In this study, smart water solutions (GSWaterS) were implemented to enhance the efficiency of the water supply system in the city of Aracatuba, Brazil. They were used to monitor and analyze the operating conditions of the water supply system in real time, thus allowing for the effective management of water supply assets. GSWaterS also supports the design and optimization of district metered areas, the reduction and management of water losses, real-time water network analysis, and big data analysis using artificial intelligence. Economic analysis revealed that GSWaterS produces various direct and indirect benefits for the water supply system.