The urgency to preserve water and enhance its sustainable usage requires the water sector to rapidly adopt digital advancements in an efficient manner. Many new technologies are being introduced in the sector that assist in optimising the planning, design, operations and maintenance (O&M), and monitoring of water treatment plants (WTPs). Widely used software for this include common data environment (CDE) and building information modelling (BIM). The adoption of digital solutions helps in integrating various datasets and processes for effective project implementation. It also offers benefits such as addressing the high extent of non-revenue water (NRW) due to pipeline leakages, monitoring the construction of water treatment facilities and enabling their O&M. Given the current scenario of water shortages in the country, there is a greater need to digitalise water projects.
Process of digital adoption
The establishment of water infrastructure in India requires collaboration between stakeholders from diverse domains, such as contractors, consultants and technology providers. Due to the involvement of a large number of versatile departments and teams in the implementation of water projects, coordination becomes an important aspect. This coordination is possible with the use of various technologies and digital platforms. Additionally, the visualisation they provide at various project implementation stages helps to bridge various gaps and complexities that may arise in the future.
Another area that necessitates digital deployment in water network projects is the quick redressal of complexities arising from their large scale. Accurate visualisation of project processes is made possible through diverse digital platforms, such as geographic information systems (GIS) and hydraulic modelling. Their adoption has become prominent in the planning stage of projects; however, it is still nascent in the O&M stages. There is still a reluctance to fully transition to a digital ecosystem due to the lack of skilled manpower and training.
Emerging technological solutions
A variety of novel and emerging technologies are being used to optimise water usage and enhance water supply and distribution systems in India. They obtain, track and assess complicated datasets to forecast demand and other aspects of projects. Softwares such as CDE and BIM are being deployed for efficient implementation of complex water infrastructure projects under engineering, procurement and construction mode.
Artificial intelligence helps in predicting water demand and assessing the treatment and maintenance cycles of WTPs. In addition, the majority of Indian cities are using GIS-based platforms to monitor assets such as water meters in the water network.
The government’s Smart Cities Mission has also introduced innovative platforms such as the integrated common command control centres (ICCCs) for the effective O&M of projects, including water-related ones. Initially, it was connected to water supply systems in the smart cities, with concerned authorities now working to digitalise the structuring of underground sewerage and stormwater systems. For example, India’s first greenfield smart city project for the Dholera Special Investment Region in Gujarat, has deployed advanced technologies. Level sensors have been installed every 300 metres within the sewer network of the project. These sensors will transmit messages to the ICCC in case of a backlogged or flooded manhole. The operators can then track the location of the manhole using GIS and address the issue.
Challenges at various project stages
The adoption of digital solutions in the water sector faces several challenges. Currently, the development of water infrastructure is majorly government-driven and based on a bidding system that selects contractors based on the lowest quoted price. A major problem with this system is that a firm proposing an innovative solution and bidding at a higher price must compete with a firm that does not have a similar offering. As a result, the contract is awarded to the lowest bidder, neglecting the importance of technological advancement. This process discourages/disincentivises contractors from adopting digital solutions and bearing the associated costs. To address this, if the tender details mandate some degree of digital deployment, consultants and contractors will be urged to explore innovations in the water sector.
Moreover, there are challenges at different stages of project implementation. Digitalisation in construction can be implemented across three phases – pre-construction or design, construction and O&M. The first stage is considered to have a relatively higher adoption of technology-based applications. However, the construction phase, which facilitates actual execution, faces significant challenges in digital adoption, such as contractors’ reluctance due to contractual liabilities. Meanwhile, in other sectors such as transportation, digitalisation is integrated into many project contracts, with technological support available at every stakeholder level, and from design to O&M. However, in the water sector, stakeholders are not well-equipped to handle the technicalities of the digitalisation process. Moreover, the lack of a robust dataset is a major challenge, as digital solutions cannot produce reliable output without high-quality input data.
Furthermore, water network augmentation projects are complex as the operations of existing utility customers cannot be disrupted, and new designs and implementations have to be carried out efficiently. Other challenges for project contractors/developers include intense competition, low returns on investment and high costs of implementation. Moreover, skill training and awareness about the technology are other aspects that require improvement.
Future outlook
The water sector is unique as it provides an indispensable resource rather than a luxury good. For many years, water usage was not charged nor had a financial value associated with it. However, to conserve this life-sustaining resource in the long term and improve its quality, revenue generation is crucial. For this, it is essential to accurately measure water consumption. The deployment of advanced technology should be capable of addressing the gaps in the existing infrastructure to bring about positive results.
Several important steps can help improve the digital adoption rate, including the collective efforts of the project implementing agencies, designers, contractors and operators. Establishing an efficient stormwater drainage system while reducing high NRW levels in Indian cities is crucial. This will help optimise the operating costs of projects and improve revenue generation. Further, smart metering is a promising solution for measuring and reducing NRW levels.
In order to incentivise the conservation of water and minimisation of its wastage, an important step is to change the consumer mindset. There is a need for initiatives and awareness programmes to make the public understand the significance of preserving water. This change in mindset will go a long way in catalysing the reuse and recycling of water. One good example in this regard is the initiative by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which provides consumers with information on various water metrics such as water consumption and monthly trends through an application. This is expected to instil awareness in consumers and urge them to reuse and recycle water to minimise wastage. Other important steps being undertaken by municipalities include implementing zero discharge policies and reusing water treated by sewage treatment plants for flushing and other purposes.
Vacuum sewerage systems are also being planned to transition to more efficient and environmentally friendly sewerage collection systems. Furthermore, the municipal bodies and water utilities in India are planning to incorporate a lifecycle cost analysis through new digital platforms. This will include assessment of capital expenditure and operational cost of projects, and will be carried out during the project budget preparation phase. n
Based on the remarks of Alok Desai, Head, Water Infrastructure and Urban Planning, SAI Consulting Engineers (SYSTRA); Abhishek Gaurav, AGM, Project Management and Digitalisation, Tata Consulting Engineers; Janki Jethi, Senior Vice-President, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City; Ajinkya Lokhande, Manager, Product Sales, Bentley Systems; and Suresh Kumar Sharma, Head-North West, and Project Director, Larsen and Toubro, at a recent Indian Infrastructure conference.