Data-Driven Crazy

The water industry relies heavily on data to make informed decisions, from water quality parameters for regulatory compliance to metering data supporting payment for water services. Useful information is all around, and if it's not currently being collected, today's technology can probably find a way to generate it. In total this would be overwhelming, but water and wastewater utilities and those that support them can weave together a range of data from a range of acronymic and abbreviated digital systems (e.g., LIMS, WIMS, GIS, and AMI) to guide regular operations and management while identifying areas for improvement. As long as the data are not garbage, models (using primarily historical data) and digital twins (using primarily real-time data) can help with predictive analytics and useful optimization.

For example, AI (artificial intelligence)-based modeling can predict excessive wear and water leaks, pointing out where inspections are needed, and proactive maintenance may prevent system emergencies. Sensors that collect and transmit real-time data can detect anomalies in pH, oxidation-reduction potential, electroconductivity, and pressure to maintain water quality, fire protection, and overall good service. Advanced distribution system models can explore different scenarios to estimate risks and identify resilience measures. Exploring how a water system responds to planned or unplanned service outages, security challenges, and varying demands can help decision makers understand what is likely to happen under various conditions.

AWWA is a resource of wide-ranging water industry data, and its Utility Benchmarking Program has been characterizing utilities and their performance to provide objective measures to understand how they compare with their peers, identify areas needing improvement, and set realistic goals. AWWA's Water and Wastewater Rate Survey provides utility rate and financial data along with comprehensive analysis to help utilities understand current norms and trends. To support human resources, AWWA's annual Compensation Survey provides current data on utilities of all sizes and structures to guide water industry pay and benefit structures as well as workforce strategies.

Whether it's managing paper files in a cabinet, working on a desktop spreadsheet, or using today's most hyper-connected digital twin, information guides the water industry. Moving forward, as new technologies and data-driven approaches demonstrate economic benefits and (perhaps) streamline regulation, more utilities will employ advanced tools to collect and analyze their systems’ data to increase their resilience and redundancy. With these advancements, water professionals will hopefully keep data overload and shifting algorithms from assaulting their sanity. Please consider writing an article for Journal AWWA to share your innovative data-driven approaches for operations or management by contacting me at [email protected].