The UK has been getting wetter over the past few decades, according to the UK’s State of Climate report published in 2023. Even more worrying, climate projections show that on average, winters will be wetter and summers will be drier. Summer rains are likely to be more intense, increasing the risk of flooding and surface water hazards.
Flood-prone communities must find ways to address these events and turn to innovative solutions to mitigate their impacts. IoT technologies that can collect, share, and analyze data from water networks and systems have the potential to more efficiently manage flood and stormwater capture and runoff, identify mechanical failures, and curb pollution and sewage issues.
Extreme weather events on the rise
With extreme weather events on the rise, it’s perhaps unsurprising that utilities are investing in smart technologies to make their networks more resilient, according to our latest research.
What’s clear is that extreme weather events like floods, storms and other climate-related hazards need to be factored into every utility company’s risk profile. Advanced weather forecasting tools top the initiative list, but there’s also a focus on things like disaster response plans.
Pilot projects and proofs of concept act as catalysts to accelerate initiatives such as smart flood and stormwater management by providing a platform to experiment and optimize new technologies and strategies before rolling out programs at scale.
For many organizations, this is well underway: Wi-SUN’s 2022 IoT survey explored the IoT maturity of global decision makers across various industry sectors and found that half of organizations with a smart IoT strategy have already completed successful projects, up more than 10% from the first IoT report published five years ago.
Considering the opportunities for the water industry, such as smart meters and remote equipment monitoring, it’s no wonder that sensors in the water and wastewater treatment industry are predicted to grow to $2 billion globally by 2030, according to a report published by IDTechEx.
IoT sensors can enable remote monitoring, maintenance, and evaluation of data across a range of applications, from distribution pipes and storage tanks to treatment plants. By leveraging edge computing, big data, and AI and machine learning technologies, IoT can process large amounts of data, making it more manageable and useful for companies in the water industry.
The problem with water infrastructure monitoring in the UK is that it is based on traditional SCADA systems, which don’t provide enough insight to efficiently manage issues such as fault finding and leak detection. According to Ofwat, leakage in England and Wales is at its lowest level, but water boards acknowledge that companies need to do more to conserve water and improve service to customers.
IoT sensors enable real-time monitoring of water and wastewater networks, giving companies transparency into their pipelines and operations. Predictive analytics helps water companies conserve water and identify leaks, and alerts maintenance teams to any issues or failures on the network so they can take immediate action.
Real-time monitoring systems also provide insight into the health of water collection systems, especially when they approach or exceed their limits. Such advanced tools can also identify areas of excessive runoff and make necessary adjustments to flood-resistant water infrastructure.
Most importantly, IoT devices can help measure water quality and purity, ensure compliance with water quality standards, and provide data on the environmental impacts of flooding.
But IoT innovation requires proven ROI, and adopting IoT technologies based on open standards ensures reliability, resilience, and security.
Communications technologies such as cellular do not provide the required energy and cost efficiency and often face challenging operating environments. Unlike standards-based Field Area Networks (FANs) based on wireless mesh technology, they provide access to a wider selection of IoT device manufacturers, improving cost efficiency and reducing the risk of vendor lock-in.
Flood and stormwater management solutions also need to cover large areas using various IoT devices such as pressure sensors, flow meters, water quality and measurement devices, without interoperability issues.
With flooding expected to become more prevalent in the UK, water companies will need to make smart choices about how to manage the impacts of these increasingly frequent and costly floods.
