Protecting the Earth's Precious Water Resources

Water is one of the most important, if not the most important, resource on the planet. It's also under constant threat from the impacts of climate disruption. Ironically, despite sea levels rising and water reaping havoc on coastal communities worldwide, water shortages are becoming more common. As of April 5, 2022, 48% of the U.S. and 57% of the lower 48 states in the United States were experiencing drought, highlighting why every drop counts.

As we reflect on how we can invest in our planet (the theme of Earth Day 2022, which we celebrated last month), one step is through the use of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solutions that combat water waste and loss. AMI brings intelligence and action to the very edge of the water distribution network and offers data-driven insights to gain an actionable understanding of water usage and water leakage. This is especially important as the National Weather Service said that drought conditions will remain the same, if not, expand across the western half of the U.S.

Overconsumption of water is an easy concept to conceptualize. We can see water running while we brush our teeth, take longer showers than needed or water our yards. When it comes to leaks, however, it's all happening underground. As an example, the UK's water distribution network loses 3 billion liters per day, which equals the annual consumption of approximately 25,000 households in western Europe. In North America alone, it's estimated that water utilities lose between 20%-50% of treated water in leaky aging pipes before it reaches their customers. Even on the conservative end of this estimation, leaking pipes are incredibly worrisome. Water is a finite and precious resource, and we can't afford to lose drinkable water at such high rates. To further compound the issue, the energy spent purifying and pumping the water into our distribution networks, only to be lost before it reaches its consumption point does not help with attaining net zero targets. Water management is also becoming increasingly important as we enter wildfire season and the drought predicted conditions that farmers are facing with growing crops and feeding cattle.

This is where AMI solutions come into play. In the case of California, more than 97 billion gallons of water are lost by water utilities through leaks in the distribution system. Itron believes that 27 billion gallons can be recovered – an impact to 850,000 households – through proactive monitoring. But technology is just one part of the equation. The other half comes down to educating consumers about why water conservation matters and how they can take action to make smarter decisions in the future.

As a global and purpose driven company, Itron is actively engaging with communities to educate and inspire conservation for a more sustainable future. One key corporate social responsibility initiative, supported and led by Itron, is the Power Over Energy campaign; an educational initiative focused on educating and motivating citizens and communities to be more resourceful about the way we use energy and water. The program is backed by a coalition of like-minded and respected business, nonprofit and government organizations.

By supporting educational campaigns and offering technology solutions that can help prevent water leakage, it is our hope to empower utilities and consumers to think globally, act locally and create a more resourceful world. Water scarcity is a problem that impacts us all and we must all do our part to help solve these critical challenges. So the next time you turn on the tap, remember, water is life and every drop counts!