With the help of IBM, Sonoma County is looking to get smarter when it comes to water management.
The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) is using IBM’s water management system to gather and analyze water usage data of the 600,000 population that the agency serves in Northern California. The goal is to help the county conserve water.
The IBM system pulls together and analyzes data including water usage and quality, weather and climate, and environmental considerations. Having this data available allows SCWA to make dynamic decisions about resource allocation that is based on near real-time information. IBM uses geographical and system maps that monitor chlorine levels and storage tank levels.
SCWA and stakeholders can view the data by using an online dashboard, which gives real-time status of water levels. The data will also include “historical trend studies to determine seasonal variations in flow and water quality” that will allow the SCWA to quickly respond to different situations and help make decisions on water management.
“By effectively managing every drop of water in our system we can ensure that we can meet the needs of people, the environment and the community,” said SCWA chief engineer Jay Jasperse. “By better utilizing our current resources we reduce the need for big, expensive infrastructure projects.”
According to IBM, its system will help the SCWA increase water use efficiency while balancing “urban, agricultural and environmental imperatives, including habitat improvement and species protection.”
IBM’s water management system will also make it easy for the SCWA to better coordinate with its six cities and two water districts.
“The ability to track and measure the water flow along with the diverse elements that impact the system at such a granular level arms SCWA and its stakeholders with a way to work together toward the common goal of ensuring adequate water for the region, now and for years to come.”
IBM has also worked with other water utility companies like the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, the Lower Colorado River Authority.
The smarter water and water management systems are a part of IBM’s Big Green Innovations initiative.