Goa Advances Water Management with Smart Meters and AI System
In a significant move to modernize its water infrastructure, the Goa government, through its drinking water department (DWD), is actively working on replacing outdated water meters with advanced smart meters. Minister Subhash Phal Dessai revealed to TOI that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance water supply efficiency across the state.
Comprehensive Information Management System Planned
Alongside the meter replacement, Goa is planning to develop a sophisticated information management system for water supply. This system will be implemented once the new smart meters are in place, aiming to provide real-time data and analytics for better resource management.
Consumer Benefits and Mobile Integration
Phal Dessai emphasized that consumers will gain direct benefits from this upgrade. They will be able to connect the smart meters to their mobile phones, allowing them to monitor their water consumption in real-time. This feature is particularly useful for detecting anomalies, such as leaks or theft, even when homeowners are away. "If a home owner is away, and if there is an anomaly noticed in water consumption, they will be able to tap any leakage or theft immediately," he stated.
Enhanced Monitoring with Flow Meters and AI Analysis
The plan includes fitting approximately 800 water tanks, including overhead and ground-level reservoirs, with flow meters. With online metering, the department will measure water drawn between valves accurately. The information management system will analyze consumption patterns, such as peak usage times, enabling targeted measures to reduce waste.
Phal Dessai highlighted that the new system, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), will generate regular reports on water losses. "Through the information management system, we will be able to analyse the consumption, what time of the day it is higher etc and take measures accordingly. It will help us better tap leakages and save treated water," he explained.
PPP Model and Financial Support
A proposal to replace all manual water meters with smart meters using a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is under consideration by the state government. The appointed agency would recover installation costs through water bills over a 10-year period. To facilitate this, Goa is willing to provide around Rs 50 crore to help cover initial investment costs, as mentioned by Phal Dessai.
This initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to water conservation and management, combining technology with consumer engagement to address challenges like leakage and inefficient usage.
