How the Internet of Things Can Help Solve Water Woes

"Whether cities face scarcity or abundance—forced to conserve water or plan for torrential rain—new tools are emerging that leverage the Internet of Things to effectively manage water," according to an article by Laura Adler.

Adler goes on to survey the different types of technologies in use in cities around the country. For instance: " Companies such as Hortau and CropX and nonprofits like Santa Cruz County’s Community Water Dialogue are implementing radio- or cellular-enabled sensor systems that track variables including rainfall, humidity, soil composition, topography, temperature, and sunlight. Coupled with analytics and weather prediction data, this information enables farmers to make smarter decisions about irrigation."

On the drought side of the equation, Adler also mentions technological innovations for irrigation on municipal properties and for preventing leaks from urban water transportation systems.

For managing stormwater, Adler notes that the Internet of Things is helping cities plan for and anticipate heavy rainfall. For instance: "Firms like Opti are helping cities pull together data from water storage facilities and weather predictions to ensure that there is sufficient space to collect and process rainwater runoff. With analytics and smart infrastructure management, cities can plan for maximum runoff capture and processing, with the dual benefit of increasing water harvesting and reducing pollution."