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Latest Trends in U.S. Water Utility Automation and Digital Connectivity

Digital Transformation Case Studies in Leading Utilities


Pipe over Water

Many water providers – large and small, public and private – are demonstrating the benefits of digital transformation through pilot projects and system-wide upgrades:


DC Water’s “Pipe Sleuth” AI software identifies defects in sewer pipes by analyzing video footage in minutes, a task that used to take hours of manual review. The machine-learning program flags issues like root intrusions, cracks, and misaligned joints, and it continuously “learns” from corrections by human inspectors to improve accuracy1. This innovation, developed in-house and with a tech partner, won DC Water recognition as a digital leader in the global water industry2.


  • Smart Metering and IoT at American Water: The nation’s largest investor-owned utility, American Water, has deployed over 1 million smart meters connected via secure cellular networks. For years, American Water has relied on IoT-enabled meters running on an AT&T LTE-M network to deliver usage data in real time, which helps decrease water waste and improve efficiency across its service areas3. This advanced metering infrastructure provides timely leak alerts and hourly consumption data to both the utility and customers, enhancing system reliability and conservation. American Water’s use of a low-power wide-area IoT network is a model for how private utilities are leveraging telecom partnerships to modernize water systems4. The result is optimized water use and reduced non-revenue losses through early detection of issues like leaks or open hydrants5.


  • Municipal Utility Digital Twin – Nashville: Metro Water Services (MWS) in Nashville, TN, operates a vast distribution network with 3,000+ miles of mains and dozens of pump stations. MWS implemented a network digital twin platform (Xylem Vue, powered by GoAigua) to gain better visibility and control over water distribution6. Recently, the digital twin revealed an unexpectedly high water “age” (time since treatment) in a particular storage tank, indicating water was staying too long and risking quality degradation7. In response, operators used the model’s insights to adjust tank operations (lowering the fill level), immediately reducing the water age and stabilizing quality8. This real-time decision support – combining hydraulic modeling and machine-learning predictions – allows Nashville’s utility to quickly detect anomalies and take proactive measures (like operational tweaks) that ensure customers continue to receive safe, fresh water9.


Nashville Digital Water Utility

Metro Water Services in Nashville uses a “digital twin” of its drinking water network to simulate and optimize operations in real time. By integrating live sensor data with advanced hydraulic models, the utility can visualize conditions (e.g. pressure zones, water age) even in parts of the network without sensors. This enabled staff to spot a water quality issue developing in a storage tank and intervene through a simple operational change – preventing customer impacts and saving costs10. Digital twins like this illustrate how data-driven tools help large urban utilities manage complex systems more efficiently.


  • Rural Utility Automation – Fifty-One East Water, OK: Not only big cities are going digital. Fifty-One East Water, a rural water cooperative in Oklahoma, recently adopted a modern SCADA monitoring system to improve service for its 2,500 customers. Previously, the utility had no SCADA and relied on manual checks and an unreliable alarm dialer11. In 2021, after seeing an affordable solution at a Rural Water Association expo, they installed a cloud-based SCADA with sensors on their wells, pumps, and tanks12. The investment was under $7,000 total – far less than the six-figure costs they had assumed – and was deployed in a matter of weeks13. Almost immediately it paid off by alerting operators to a failed pressure valve that was causing abnormal pressures between service zones14. With newfound remote visibility and control, this small utility can respond faster to issues and operate with greater confidence despite its limited staff.


  • Customer Engagement Portals – City of Atlanta: As part of a broader digital overhaul, the City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management implemented an interactive customer water usage portal linked to their AMI meter data (along with a mobile app). This gives residents transparency into daily consumption and leak alerts, and it helped Atlanta reduce overall water demand. Atlanta’s approach reflects a wider trend of customer-facing digital tools: industry surveys show that online customer portals and mobile apps are gaining traction, giving consumers “insight and empowerment not imagined before,” which in turn builds public support for utility programs15.


These examples showcase how digital connectivity and automation are benefiting all types of water utilities – from big metros to rural districts. Whether through AI-driven analytics, smart meters, or digital twins, leading utilities are achieving tangible outcomes like reduced water loss, lower energy use, improved water quality, and better customer service.


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