Smart Water Networks and Cyber Security

Abstract

Smart water networks are instrumented, interconnected water systems that integrate data, computation, control, and communication technologies. They aim to improve system performance and resilience as well as consumer satisfaction and engagement. Partially inspired by advances in electric grid technology, smart water networks have ushered in a new era in design, operation, and management of urban water infrastructure. Contemporary advances and increased interest in smart water network technology are evident through development of a broad array of industry solutions and adoption by numerous water/wastewater utilities. Proliferation of, and increased maturity in, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), data analytics, and automation technologies has resulted in commercial, field-proven products such as Accenture’s Water Analytics, Arqiva’s long-range radio communication suite, and i2O’s PRV Remote Control solutions. Such technologies have been adopted by utilities worldwide—by Thames Water in the United Kingdom (Accenture 2014), which launched a 15-year program to deploy smart meters across 3.3 million properties; and Philippines Manila Water, which deployed data-driven pressure optimization to enhance services provided to over 6.2 million people. The exponential development and deployment has several compelling drivers, which include escalating droughts, aging infrastructure, increasing water demand and costs, and environmental impacts. Smart water management as an intelligent approach promises enhanced situational awareness and real-time monitoring, predictive control, crisis response/recovery, and self-healing operations. This technological promise has manifested itself through success stories like South African eThekwini Water’s reported 67% mains burst reduction and Romanian APA Nowa Water’s 20% energy consumption reduction through smart pressure management (i2O Water 2015). Merging of cyberspace with physical water assets that are accountable for such tremendous promises, nevertheless, has also exported the malignancies of cyberspace to the traditionally ingenuous infrastructure environments.