HELPING UTILITIES IMPLEMENT IoT-enabled Technologies ThaT provide acTionable daTa To learn more about IoT-enabled solutions, call 1.844.4.H2O.DATA Preparing for smart cities infrastructure The Mi.Net System’s seamless communication capabilities are key to IoT, p. 8 Experts weigh in on approaches and trends for building a smart water utility, p. 4 What an Internet- of-Things (IoT) driven water network looks like, p. 6 Table of Contents Common Utility Challenges How IoT and Data Are Helping Utilities ioT, or “internet of Things,” is a nexus of technologies incorporating sensor-based data gathering and next-generation networking. The smart technology platform harnesses this ioT networking through the deployment of smart devices a pUblicaTion of mueller WaTer prodUcTs using advanced wireless technologies for remote monitoring and management of water networks. This allows utilities Learn more to tackle problems facing the industry today, such as an aging workforce and the need for real-time water quality about the monitoring. below are five common challenges utilities face that can be addressed with data-driven solutions. impact of IoT In This Issue Challenge Data-Driven Solutions and data Call 1.844.4.H2O.DATA 3 Common Utility Challenges Traditionally, utilities replaced parts of their water mains or distribution networks (1.844.442.6328) to arrange for How IoT and Data are Helping Utilities without having access to information about the condition of the pipes. in many new cutting-edge technologies incorporate sensor- a customized presentation Aging cases, entire lengths of pipe were in good condition, with only parts of them needing based data gathering Infrastructure immediate replacement. gathering actionable data about the water network enables for your utility. utilities to decide on rehabilitation schedules and the methods used, with focus on 4 From the Experts intelligent capital and operational expense planning and controls. Industry Leaders Offer Insight on Smart Water Distribution Systems Q&as with singapore pUb, american Water, booky oren and echologics With the average age of water utility operators currently standing at 55, water Increasing utilities face the retirement of a large portion of their workforce in the next 10 to 15 6 Intelligent Water Technology Aging/Retiring years. along with the loss of skilled personnel will come the loss of system knowledge Efficiencies With IoT-Driven Water Networks Workforce accumulated over their careers. ioT technologies will play a critical role in helping visibility, control and optimization of utility operations to avert this, through the capture, centralization and sharing of data that secure Data-Driven and flexible backhaul approaches collective utility expertise for future generations of water network operators. Solutions 8 Smart Meters Mi.Net® System Prepares Utilities for Full Smart Cities Infrastructure aging water infrastructure has become a reality for Non-Revenue pressure is put on utilities to reduce water losses from both an environmental and advanced network technology enables a complete many utilities, bringing additional challenges to those Water financial standpoint. robust, simple leak detectors and algorithms enable utilities intelligent solution already facing water loss issues, scarce funding, an Management to differentiate between abnormal consumption (e.g., a running tap or a home pipe aging workforce and more. in other industries, “smart” 10 Monitoring and Control & Leak break) and leak events in the network. This capability can help prioritize repair needs internet of Things (ioT) technologies are being utilized to Detection based on the severity and location of the leak. streamline processes and increase efficiencies with great EchoShore®-DX Technology Automates Leak success. such technologies are now becoming available Detection for Smart Utilities for water utilities. continuous remote monitoring for pipeline leaks smart utilities manage their assets through the use of includes data flexibility for utilities automated devices that enable the collection and analysis of 11 Monitoring and Control Real-Time, The advancements in online water quality sensors make it possible to monitor data on usage, flow rates, conditions and more. This enables Remote Meter Shutoff Technology Offers Online Water chlorine levels, ph and temperature in real time. integrating such functionality with I them to take intelligent action that can reduce costs and Opportunity for Action Quality consumption and use-pattern data enables utilities to improve the operation of the nter ultimately deliver the best service to their customers. V disconnects and reconnects are made easier with Monitoring water distribution system, as well as the service offered to their customers. iews This publication, the smart Water handbook, is remote solution and brought to you by Mueller Water products, a single- D source supplier for utilities bringing leading technologies ata P to the industry on aMi, leak detection, remote shutoff, ro V ided automated flushing, pressure management and more. Meters, sensors, leak detection and communication protocols are often installed from Interoperability BY B Thanks to our partners and industry experts who shared multiple vendors within one distribution network, as utilities are typically reluctant of Smart luetech their thoughts and insights on the following pages, we’ve to rely on a single vendor. solutions such as the lora communications platform and Network defined what a smart water utility is and how smart www.smartwaterbook.com device-agnostic data analytics facilitate the integration of existing databases and R Devices esearch technologies solve common challenges, as well as smart networks with new solutions. how utilities of any size can start implementing Copyright © 2016 Mueller Co. LLC. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks and patents and patent applications covering products marked with a “section symbol” § are ioT technologies. owned by Mueller Co. LLC or its affiliates. For details, visit www.mwppat.com. 2 smartwater HANDBOOK smartwater HANDBOOK 3 From the Experts Industry Leaders Offer Insight on Smart Water Distribution Systems Don Shields, P.E. Michael Toh Booky Oren Marc Bracken, P.E. vice president & director director, Water supply (network) chairman and CEO, vice president & general of engineering, new Jersey department, pUb, singapore’s booky oren global Manager, echologics american Water national Water agency Water Technologies Is there a common Describe what smart water Can you provide an example Do the core technologies industry definition distribution looks like to you. of how water utilities are required to build a smart of a smart water utility? a smart water grid system integrates information effectively collecting and using data? water distribution system exist today? a smart water utility effectively manages its water and communications technologies (ICT) into the There are many with whom i am familiar, but no five years ago, the technology did not exist. The resources and efficiently uses them to best deliver on management of the water distribution system. one utility has the perfect answer, so smart water industry required low-power electronics with high both cost and quality to customers. it also collects sensors, meters, digital controls and analytics systems continue to be an evolving “process.” even onboard memory and industrial ioT communication and uses data efficiently to make informed decisions, are used to automate, monitor and control the a highly advanced water utility continues to put a technologies. We started using mesh network radio ensuring sustainability of its system. This definition transmission and distribution of water, ensuring that lot of effort into improving the way it is monitoring and achieved an 85% communication efficiency, has remained consistent throughout the industry; it is efficiently delivered only when and where it is the system. but there was still room for improvement. last however, it is evolving with time. needed, and with good quality. another dimension to this question is why a year, many technologies came to the market, an The advances in ICT enable us to capture and store utility needs a smart water system in the first example being lora from semtech—a long-range, What is an example of how American Water is enormous pools of data, and to perform powerful place. historically, water was managed based on low-power application that has plenty of bandwidth collecting and using data to optimize operations? analytics and predictive analysis to contribute toward assumption of use, and this is acceptable without and can send data up to 5 miles on a public network. american Water effectively monitors its system greater efficiency and effectiveness in our water any budget constraint and regulations. however, previously, we were only getting around a 1,500- to collect and gather information to determine resource management. as our population continues budget constraints and regulations are a reality. foot range from spread-spectrum radios. sending water quality, and for asset management purposes to grow, our water infrastructure must be ready to We are thus moving away from an era in which we data on a public network, rather than a proprietary where key aspects of the distribution systems are meet an increasing demand while maintaining good manage our infrastructure by assumption, to an era communication network, prevents utilities [from] monitored (e.g., pressure, flow and leaks). asset condition.