As the world’s thirst for water grows, the industry faces an uphill battle against rising energy costs, mounting sustainability pressures, and stricter regulations. With energy expenses accounting for up to 40% of operating costs, utilities are under immense pressure to reduce Scope 2 emissions and achieve net-zero goals.
The good news? There are some simple steps that result in big improvements. Digitalization and energy efficiency innovations can slash up to 50% of energy use. Cutting-edge technologies like AI, ML, and digital twins promise game-changing improvements in efficiency and sustainability, but it some simple first steps that build the foundation.
The challenge of starting with the basics
Many water utilities are exploring AI and digital twins to tackle operational challenges. While these technologies hold immense potential, they are often perceived as “magic bullet” solutions. However, as I’ve heard in conversations with utilities worldwide, many organizations do not track the foundational metrics needed to deploy these advanced systems.
Take energy sub-metering as an example. Many facilities are still only tracking energy use at the main meter, leaving them unaware of the energy intensity of individual processes or assets. This is like trying to reduce your home energy bill without knowing whether your HVAC system or refrigerator is the main culprit. The same applies to timely measurement and access to water quality data of influent and throughout the process. This measurement is essential for managing effluent quality, a growing regulatory focus. Without real-time visibility into influent variability, operators risk inefficiencies or compliance violations. Yet, these critical data points are often either unmeasured or measured too infrequently to be actionable.
Building a solid foundation for digital transformation in water
For water utilities, success starts with asking the right questions:
- What decisions are we trying to make?
- What information do we need to make those decisions?
- Is this data needed for this information already available in our systems, and if not, how can we access it?
These questions often reveal a critical roadblock (which some operators informally call “SCADA jail”) where existing data remains trapped. This is where operational data is inaccessible for broader analysis or decision-making due to technological silos, cybersecurity concerns, or system design limitations.
Addressing these foundational questions and unlocking the data needed can help water utilities create the visibility to improve operational efficiency and lay the groundwork for meaningful digital transformation.
Measurement: the backbone of operational improvement
The phrase “what gets measured gets managed” is often cited in business and industry and is equally important to water utilities.
To improve, we must first measure. Consider your vehicle’s fuel economy, or energy consumption for the increasing amount of us driving EVs. You could wait until month’s end to calculate fuel/energy costs and make small changes, but price fluctuations might obscure real improvements. But this is how many plants still manage energy consumption—reactively rather than with real-time insights.
Now, imagine tracking efficiency live, as you drive, and have immediate feedback of how your driving style impacts consumption. You’d quickly adjust your habits to improve performance. The same applies to water operations—when operators can see how real-time decisions impact efficiency, they can immediately optimize processes like pump scheduling or aeration intensity. Better visibility enables smarter operational choices and informs long-term capital investments, prioritizing energy efficiency.
This ability to measure and act in real-time is particularly crucial in managing energy costs and emissions. Many utilities struggle with energy costs and Scope 2 emissions, but knowing where to optimize can be a challenge without granular data—such as how much energy is consumed per liter of water pumped, treated, or desalinated. In one example, a water treatment facility implemented energy sub-metering and discovered one filtration process was responsible for 30% of its total energy use. They replaced aging equipment with a high-efficiency alternative and adjusted operating schedules, reducing energy consumption for that process by 15%, leading to an overall 8% reduction in energy costs.
The power of visualization
Accurate and available measurement data is just the first step; its real impact lies in its use. One of the most potent tools for water utilities is visualization. Visualization simplifies complex data into intuitive formats, with actionable insights that help operators focus on what matters most. These dashboards track real-time energy use, influent quality, or process intensity and can enable a reduction in energy consumption by up to 5-10% almost immediately.
Why does visualization work? It’s human nature to respond to what we can see. In the same way a fitness tracker motivates us to track our progress and increases our motivation, a dashboard showing energy intensity or quality variability encourages better decisions. It reveals inefficiencies, highlights trends, and enables timely interventions. Many water utilities fail to do some of these basic and simple approach effectively, opting instead for broad, often overwhelming dashboards with no clear focus.
Laying the groundwork for transformation for digital transformation in water
Before running with digital transformation, we must first walk the path of foundational improvements—key measurements that can identify the challenges and determine the steps forward. Once the foundation is in place, water utilities can expand to more advanced technologies like AI and digital twins; however, the order of operations matters. Without accurate measurement and visualization, even the most advanced systems may struggle to deliver.
Ready to unlock the potential of your data and take the first steps toward digital transformation? Visit Schneider Electric’s Water Solutions page and/or talk to a Schneider Water specialist today to discover the tools and strategies and approaches to maximize the benefits from your operational data
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