Water is among the gifts we disregard until supplies dwindle or get polluted.
This precious resource is used to help grow our food, keep us hydrated, and provide places for fun activities like swimming and fishing. It is important for this reason to ensure that enough clean water exists for everyone.
The water systems face tough challenges, however. Old pipes leak, severe droughts occur, floods damage, and pollution places extra strain on water supplies. Population growth and unpredictable weather patterns further exacerbate the situation.
AI, or artificial intelligence, is helping out, though. It offers an approach that is fresh, helping manage water reliably as well as efficiently.
In this article, we will explore a few of the ways AI is helping tackle challenges in water management.
#1 Predicting Water Demand and Preventing Shortages
Trying to guess how much water a community will need next week, next month, or even next year is a tricky business.
Weather changes, populations grow, and daily demands shift. If water managers guess wrong, communities could face shortages, or precious water resources could be wasted.
AI steps in like a forecaster, helping to avoid these problems. It analyzes huge amounts of data, looking at past water use, detailed weather forecasts, and even population growth trends. This helps AI predict future water demand with amazing accuracy.
For example, AI can predict if a string of hot days will cause a big jump in water usage for cooling homes or watering lawns. This foresight allows water utilities to prepare their systems and manage resources more efficiently.
AI also helps optimize how water flows through pipes. It can adjust pumping schedules and water pressure in real-time to match actual demands. This means less wasted water and lower energy bills for water utilities, as pumps only run when truly needed.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, AI is already at work. Machine learning helps predict water main breaks, allowing for repairs before they turn into big problems.
#2 Helping Communities Prepare for Climate Change
Climate change brings more extreme weather, like intense droughts and severe floods. Water managers need to be ready for anything Mother Nature throws their way.
AI is a big help here. It can look at satellite images, weather forecasts, and historical data. This helps predict droughts long before they become a big problem. Farmers can then plan how to use their water wisely, like optimizing irrigation based on these forecasts. AI also helps monitor current drought conditions, giving a clearer picture of their severity.
Take Texas, Nebraska, and North Dakota. These top three corn-growing states are facing extreme drought this year.
AI can predict whether these dry spells will linger or worsen, giving farmers the chance to prepare. In areas where fresh water is running out, farmers can also explore creative solutions. One ingenious solution that is gaining attention is atmospheric water harvesting.
This technology pulls in air and extracts water from it. According to Atoco, water is extracted through harvesting, adsorption, or desiccants.
Fog harvesting uses mesh structures to capture water droplets. It is energy-free but fog-dependent.
Meanwhile, desiccant systems work better in low humidity, but they require high energy for regeneration. Adsorption-based systems capture and release water using porous sorbent materials.
#3 Protecting Water Quality in Rivers, Lakes, and Oceans
Keeping rivers, lakes, and oceans clean is vital for public health and the environment. Pollution, such as harmful algal blooms or chemical runoff, can make water unsafe to drink, swim in, or fish in.
AI is transforming how water quality in rivers, lakes, and oceans is monitored. It uses smart sensors to monitor water in real time, checking for things like cloudiness, chemicals, and even harmful algae.
Traditional water quality monitoring methods are often slow, costly, and limited in their reach. They can’t cover vast areas or provide instant updates. AI, however, can quickly identify patterns that signal a problem, such as pollution from factories or farms.
This early warning means water treatment plants can adjust their processes, or officials can issue warnings to protect public health. For example, in New York City’s water supply, an AI tool predicts water cloudiness after storms. This helps managers adjust their operations and keep drinking water safe.
AI also makes wastewater treatment plants smarter. It helps them clean water more efficiently and use less energy, ensuring cleaner water is returned to nature.
The takeaway? The water sector is facing some big challenges, but AI is helping us meet them.
It’s important to remember that AI isn’t replacing people. Instead, it’s giving them powerful new tools to make better, more informed decisions.
The successful use of AI in water management requires more than just new technology. It also needs attention to human and organizational aspects, such as training the workforce and ensuring ethical use.
By working together, technology, communities, and water experts can build a secure and sustainable water future for everyone.