Future Technology Trends in Water and Wastewater Treatment

As the world becomes increasingly digital, water and wastewater treatment is experiencing a technological renaissance that may redefine how communities and industries operate their facilities and achieve sustainability goals. New tools are coming to the market that increasingly have capabilities to operate, manage, and plan treatment facilities, accomplishing work previously thought to be exclusive to humans. These include but are not limited to design and management software, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI).

Software Tools

Large and small software companies are entering the water space with programs that aid decision-making and design. For example, digital twins are digital replications of treatment facilities that model static and dynamic plant data, providing insights via complex simulations that improve design decisions and outcomes. Digital twin programs can model growth or abnormal events, such as large storms and system upsets, to simulate how existing systems would manage in these scenarios and which solutions would best fit. Ultimately, facility operators and engineers can better understand their systems and predict how new technologies and inputs would affect operations before they occur.

The Internet of Things

Sensor and monitoring devices empower treatment facility operators to “listen” to their systems in order to make informed operations decisions. As water treatment moves into the 21st century, more precise sensors with new applications have opened opportunities to understand treatment systems like never before and further their use cases. IoT technology brings these innovations together and enables them to communicate their data to one another. For operators, interconnected sensors and equipment help them see the bigger picture of operations changes and give them the ability to operate their sensors and equipment remotely in ways that were previously only possible manually. An increasingly popular example of IoT for municipalities is Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), which relays water use data to water providers to automate reading customer meters, generating bills, and reporting environmental compliance.?

Artificial Intelligence

AI is changing the world with its decision-making capabilities and capacity to learn. This technology also has the potential to transform water treatment operations, maintenance, and planning. AI can enhance software and IoT technologies by interpreting their data and frameworks to offer operations and engineering decisions to water professionals.

AI’s predictive abilities enable water treatment facilities to foresee and prioritize equipment maintenance, predict how to operate a plant based on incoming water quality, and identify areas of distribution networks that are over- or underutilized. This can serve as a decision support system to adjust water networks and ensure water is treated and distributed efficiently, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. AI can also improve efficiency by predicting how to operate treatment facilities from past events and optimize the use of consumables like coagulants and electricity.

Real World Applications?

Across the world, these technologies are already merging to change how communities and industries treat and transmit water. In North America, a water treatment plant serving 150,000 residents struggled to manage the energy consumption of its membrane process and pump stations throughout its 650 km (400 mi) distribution system, the effects of which were compounded by increasing energy prices. To find where the facility could cut costs and operate more efficiently, the facility’s team worked with a software firm to build an AI-enabled digital twin that predicted reservoir levels and pump demands. By matching local hourly energy pricing with reservoir level data, the software showed the team how to change its pump station operations and estimated that 15 to 20% cost savings were possible. Upon changing how it operated its pump stations, the facility has reduced its energy costs by 15% and plans to continue to use the digital twin software to optimize its membrane system’s energy consumption and lifespan.? Story Source

Water Treatment in the Digital Age

In the face of climate change, embracing digital innovations in water and wastewater treatment presents an opportunity for treatment facilities to operate sustainably and efficiently. Software tools, IoT, and AI are not just “trends” but necessities in the fight to drive down operational costs while fostering environmental stewardship. As demonstrated by successful implementations, such as the energy savings at the North American water treatment facility, communities and industries can continue to reduce their carbon footprint and treatment costs.

If your facility needs help optimizing its operations or design to meet ESG and economic goals, contact BW Water’s experts today. Our vast industry knowledge and experience can give your project insights from similar situations around the world, allowing you to make an informed decision that will best suit your situation.