By Qatium Experts
Contributor: Dragan Savic
When humanity first dreamt of putting a person on the moon, it seemed unattainable. The idea was criticized as too expensive, too dangerous, and too complex. Despite these criticisms — and the knowledge that the motivation for the mission was born both out of political one-upmanship and innovation, the moon landing quickly became a rallying cry for a nation determined to envision a better future. In his speech to drum up support for the mission, US President John F. Kennedy declared,
We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone […].
John F. Kennedy, Moon Speech – Rice Stadium. NASA. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
Solutions to the challenges of climate change, water scarcity and a growing population can sometimes seem even more unattainable than a moon landing. Achieving a better future for water utilities may seem like a distant goal, one made too complex through aging infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, information silos and cumbersome governance processes. Yet just like a moonshot, a better water utility of the future is within reach if we combine visionary thinking with concerted efforts.
What is the water utility’s “moonshot”?
Envisioning the water utility of the future as a moonshot involves the creation of a digital ecosystem that integrates cutting-edge technologies with human ingenuity. This future utility will rely on scalable, upgradable, and affordable solutions, leveraging AI for planning, fault detection, and customer service. For example, picture this: autonomous robots roaming water systems, collecting vital data for analysis and enabling decision-making and efficient network management.
The future of water utilities isn’t without challenges. Because while advancements in AI offer immense potential for the water sector, progress is sometimes hindered by industry-specific challenges such as low profit margins, risk aversion, cybersecurity and early adopter risks. However, embracing the transformative power of AI and robotics, in combination with the unique strengths of human intelligence, is crucial for the water utility of the future.
So how can we get there?
Gaining buy-in
Achieving the water utility of the future requires widespread buy-in and adoption. Securing funding, developing dependable technologies and demonstrating the value of innovative solutions, such as water recycling, are essential steps.
For example, Singapore, despite being a small city-state with limited natural water resources, has successfully developed comprehensive and effective wastewater treatment infrastructure. The Singapore Public Utility Board (PUB), in charge of water supply and wastewater management, has developed a comprehensive plan for widespread digitalization. The “SMART PUB Roadmap,” formulated in 2018, outlines the systematic deployment of digital solutions and smart technologies across the entire water cycle. One such solution is a “Remote Micro-invertebrate Detector,” which provides real-time detection and identification of images using AI. Split-second imaging is then used to indicate the presence of micro-invertebrates in water samples.
This remote detector, along with other digital solutions, helps Singapore deal with geographical limitations, climate change, increasing water demand and unfavorable demographic trends. Singapore has been so successful in coupling environmental progress with digitalization that it was ranked first in Yale’s 2024 Environmental Performance Index.
Embracing human-technology synergy
In the pursuit of technological advancement, it’s important to prioritize the human element. Because without people, there’s no tech. Augmented Intelligence, rather than Artificial Intelligence, should guide the evolution of workforce dynamics in the water sector. Augmented Intelligence enhances human intelligence by improving human decision-making through the use of AI.
However, the pool of water talent is drying up. As in many other industries, a slew of experienced water professionals are set to retire soon. In the UK, recent studies show that 48 per cent of the water-engineering workforce will retire in the next 20 years, and hiring in the space is not even close to keeping pace with demand. Fewer senior industry professionals means there are less opportunities for mentorship, creating barriers for those just entering the workforce.
That’s where Augmented Reality (AR) can really shine. Using AR, new hires could play with a digital twin of physical infrastructure, and technicians could access real-time 3D models of requirement or infrastructure overlaid with step-by-step maintenance procedures. They can learn through trial and error in a risk-free environment, reducing costly mistakes and improving efficiency.
Turning to open water
The future of water utilities must rely on open data. Leveraging cloud-based platforms and shared data repositories will enable collaborative research and data-driven decision-making across the industry. Small and medium-sized utilities can benefit from pooling resources and sharing intelligence data, fostering a culture of knowledge exchange and innovation.
Open data increases transparency and trust in water service providers by allowing customers and stakeholders to better understand water usage, quality, and management practices. For example, in Cape Town, South Africa, sustained public communications campaigns were a key element in overcoming prolonged drought during its “one-in-400 year” drought period. Residents were reminded to take shorter showers, not flush toilets unnecessarily, and refrain from using drinking water for gardening.
Access to open data can stimulate innovation by enabling researchers, developers, and businesses to create new solutions for water management beyond what is possible with limited data sets. For example, the Uniform Failure Registration Database (USTORE) is used by nine Dutch water companies to provide failure data. Using a jointly agreed procedure, water main failures are registered in a uniform manner on USTORE in order to facilitate the modeling of infrastructure conditions and support informed pipe rehabilitation and replacement decisions. The water companies that employ the USTORE database have access to a much more robust model than any that could be developed based on an individual’s company data alone.
Ensuring that all water utilities have access to open, accessible and affordable solutions will be key to achieving the moonshot and leveraging the most of human intelligence. It’s through platforms like Qatium where water innovators find the opportunity to collaborate with one another and tackle the challenges of the future. For example, through Qatium Labs, developers and water experts can experiment with open source tools. Qatium’s Software Development Kit (SDK) allows software developers, utilities, consultants, researchers, students, and anybody who’s interested to build on, extend or integrate with Qatium’s water management platform in a way that works for them. Any plugins they create can be submitted to the Qatium Marketplace for others to benefit from — a win-win for all.
The future water utility’s business case
Just like the moon landing, creating the water utility of the future will require investment. But unlike the moon landing, the cost of inaction is unfathomably high. Water is considered a fundamental human right and a public good. Access to clean water and sanitation is essential for health, dignity and development. However, utilities require investment into infrastructure to abstract, treat and deliver water to homes and take wastewater away and treat it before it is returned to the environment. This requires substantial upfront investment due to high initial cost and long payback periods.
With a shift toward data-as-a-service models and enhanced technological platforms, external providers and knowledge partners can easily contribute to utility operations and analytics. This inclusive approach not only streamlines data analysis and reporting, but also fosters an ecosystem of innovation and expertise within the industry — making it, in turn, a more attractive industry for new talent. The time for action on building the water utility of the future is now.
