In urban areas, water is the most neglected natural resource. Smart water solutions and services are still struggling for rapid adoption in major part of the globe owing to lack of regulatory support from the governments in some regions such as Africa, and Western Asia among others. Aging water infrastructure especially in developed economies such as the U.S.A., Canada, and Germany among others is a major driver for adoption of smart water technology solutions. Aging water infrastructure results in bursts, pipe leakage, and increased customer complaints. Water regulatory bodies are mandating stricter environmental standards related to smart water management which is another important driver for this market. Smart water management market is expected to witness substantial growth in the coming years due to stricter environmental standards mandated by water regulatory bodies across the globe and need to minimize water loss and non-revenue water (NRW). Sustainable water management policies are high on the agenda of various governments across the world. Adverse effects of climate change such as risk of flooding, rising sea levels, and longer drought periods have affected the availability of fresh water resources needed to maintain economic growth and increasing populations.
The major reason for growing demand for smart water management in urban area is increasing urban population. In 1900, about 13% of people lived in cities; however, this has gone up to over 50% and in 2013 is further expected to reach nearly 70% by 2050. These issues are compounded by aging pipe networks in various established cities. In London, for instance, around 40% of pipes are more than 100 years old. According to a survey conducted at the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, the average age of pipes was 76 years with some pipes having been laid more than a century ago. IBM’s smart water management system is helping Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) meet California’s goal for all its water agencies to reduce water use by 20% by 2020. The system uses a real time collaboration platform to help balance environmental, agricultural and other needs in the Russian river water system allowing SCWA to make dynamic, informed decisions about resource allocation.
The report includes segmentation of smart water management market by component, by meter read technology, and by geography. Further, it provides current market size and forecast in terms of revenue for the aforementioned categories. Cross sectional analysis for component and geography segments is a part of the scope. Factors influencing and inhibiting the growth of the market have been analyzed. Porter’s five forces analysis offers insights on market competition.
Smart water management is equally important for both developed and developing nations. At present, the focus is more on adopting meter data management (MDM), SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), and advanced water meter solutions for water utilities across many countries. The trend is expected to change from traditional water management technologies gradually to smart technology solutions such as advanced pressure management, analytics and distribution network monitoring. For distribution network, the adoption of cloud-based solutions which require no capital expenditure from utility’s end is expected to witness greater grip in the coming years. The use of smart water management technology solutions across water utilities is expected to rise globally during the forecast period.
This study includes profile of key players in the market and the strategies adopted by them to sustain the competition. Recent developments and barriers of the market will help emerging players to design their strategies in an effective manner. The study is expected to help key players providing smart water systems and solutions formulating and developing their strategies. The global SWM market is fragmented in nature with a large number of local players across different geographies. Majority of the market share was held by local and regional players offering solutions and services for smart water management. Other players in the market include Arad Metering Technologies, Itron Inc., ABB Ltd., Sensus USA Inc., Schneider Electric SA, I2O Water Ltd., General Electric Company, and TaKaDu Ltd.
The global market for smart water management is segmented as follows:
Smart water management market analysis, by component
Smart water management market analysis, by meter read technology
- Fixed Technology
- Cellular Technology
Smart water management market, by geography
- North America
- RoW (Rest of the World)