What's Happening?
Schneider Electric has released new research highlighting a significant disconnect between water management strategies and their execution in U.S. utilities and industries. The study, conducted with NewtonX, surveyed over 200 decision-makers and found that while most cities and businesses have a water strategy on paper, only about 10% are consistently implementing smart water plans. Key barriers include budget pressures, cybersecurity concerns, and lack of real-time data. The U.S. loses 7 billion gallons of treated water daily due to leaks, costing utilities $6.4 billion in lost revenue. With 260,000 water main breaks annually, the operational and financial toll continues to grow.
Why It's Important?
The findings underscore the urgent need for smarter water strategies and automation to address the growing challenges faced by U.S. utilities. As water is essential for life and economic strength, the inefficiencies in current water management practices could have significant economic and environmental impacts. The research suggests that embracing automation and smarter water strategies could help mitigate these issues, potentially leading to more sustainable water management practices and improved resilience in the face of rising demand and aging infrastructure.
What's Next?
The research calls for a collective responsibility to embrace automation and smarter water strategies. Examples like Conroe, Texas, which partnered with Schneider on a $50 million infrastructure upgrade, demonstrate how software-defined automation and digital tools can deliver resilience and efficiency gains. Utilities and industries may need to prioritize investments in technology and infrastructure upgrades to address the identified gaps and improve water management practices.
