We live in a connected world where data is worth its weight in gold. Right from our Phones & appliances to our automobiles, all our devices are increasingly connected to a cloud. Should not something as basic as our water needs connected and the information available to us?
With the advent of “Internet of things” also known as IoT, we can satiate the needs of the water supply chain. A typical IoT platform consists of devices also called “Things” that have embedded sensors & software which are connected to a digital cloud using the internet. The sensors collect data from or within the surroundings of the device, transmit this data over internet to the cloud.
In many developing countries like India, there is a huge gap in the demand versus supply of potable water. Intrinsic problems are many, including broken aquifers, overused bore wells & lack of rain water harvesting. Water is getting saltier as we draw more to satiate the needs of a growing population. Measurement is done by an analysis of various parameters like Colour, Odour, pH, Turbidity, TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), BOD (Biochemical oxygen demand) and DO (Dissolved Oxygen).
We are already seeing IoT helping Smart cities leverage the power of real time and connected information from water bodies. We are seeing the increasing use of Waterbouys , which are mini monitoring stations that can be used in rivers, lakes, and other waterbodies. They contain sensors that measure water quality parameters and send the data to the cloud. A water processing plant or a public water works utility stands to benefit a lot from this information, saving their time and equipment.
So how does IoT help in sourcing of water?
Various sensors are used to measure quality parameters & data sent to the cloud. Contingency actions could be taken for poor quality water. For example: If the water has a high TDS and the requirement is to have low TDS water for the equipment in a building. Early detection would help stop the supply and prevent damage to the equipment. Not only real time data but also data history could be analysed with artificial intelligence to prevent issues from happening. The integration of the IoT things into water bodies, processing plants, water tanks & water tankers is an unsatisfied need today.
What are the challenges?
Optimizing cost is an important factor. There is a trade-off between the amount of sensors versus the cost involved. Certain sensors like for Dissolved Oxygen are expensive. Poor quality of water affects the sensors leaving deposits on them and a lot of post maintenance work. Apart from the maintenance there is also the technology used for building the sensors which will determine the longevity & productivity of the sensors.
At Bookwater we have tankers with TDS sensors and a water level indicator. These will provide crucial data on the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water & also the quantity of water delivered. Our Mobile application is backed by an orchestrated, scalable & secure backend server. Not only do we ensure safe and secure transactions for your payment, but also credible real time data from the tankers.
About Bookwater
Bookwater is a water tanker & sewage disposal tanker sourcing platform powered by Internet of Things. The Bookwater mobile app allows users to select water and sewage tankers, pay, and manage orders online. With a growing supply base across cities in India and world class customer support, we ensure that quality and quantity is delivered.
To learn more about Bookwater visit www.bookwater.com
