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Moving Towards Sustainable and Resilient Smart Water Grids

Author

Listed:
  • Michele Mutchek

    (Department of Civil, Environmental & Sustainable Engineering, Arizona State University, Engineering G-Wing, 501 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA)

  • Eric Williams

    (Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology, 111 Lomb Memorial Drive, Sustainability Hall, Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

Abstract

Urban water systems face sustainability and resiliency challenges including water leaks, over-use, quality issues, and response to drought and natural disasters. Information and communications technology (ICT) could help address these challenges through the development of smart water grids that network and automate monitoring and control devices. While progress is being made on technology elements, as a system, the smart water grid has received scant attention. This article aims to raise awareness of the systems-level idea of smart water grids by reviewing the technology elements and their integration into smart water systems, discussing potential sustainability and resiliency benefits, and challenges relating to the adoption of smart water grids. Water losses and inefficient use stand out as promising areas for applications of smart water grids. Potential barriers to the adoption of smart water grids include lack of funding for research and development, economic disincentives as well as institutional and political structures that favor the current system. It is our hope that future work can clarify the benefits of smart water grids and address challenges to their further development.

Suggested Citation

  • Michele Mutchek & Eric Williams, 2014. "Moving Towards Sustainable and Resilient Smart Water Grids," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:5:y:2014:i:1:p:123-137:d:34270
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mansur, Erin T. & Olmstead, Sheila M., 2012. "The value of scarce water: Measuring the inefficiency of municipal regulations," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(3), pages 332-346.
    2. Michele A. Mutchek & Eric D. Williams, 2010. "Design Space Characterization for Meeting Cost and Carbon Reduction Goals: Smart Irrigation Controllers in the Southwestern United States," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 14(5), pages 727-739, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yin Su & Weijun Gao & Dongjie Guan & Tai’an Zuo, 2020. "Achieving Urban Water Security: a Review of Water Management Approach from Technology Perspective," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 34(13), pages 4163-4179, October.
    2. Seongjoon Byeon & Gyewoon Choi & Seungjin Maeng & Philippe Gourbesville, 2015. "Sustainable Water Distribution Strategy with Smart Water Grid," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Danilo Ferreira de Souza & Emeli Lalesca Aparecida da Guarda & Welitom Ttatom Pereira da Silva & Ildo Luis Sauer & Hédio Tatizawa, 2022. "Perspectives on the Advancement of Industry 4.0 Technologies Applied to Water Pumping Systems: Trends in Building Pumps," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Carlos Oliveira Cruz & Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, 2017. "Reforming traditional PPP models to cope with the challenges of smart cities," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 18(1-2), pages 94-114, March.

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