Water Utilities See Value in IoT Technologies According to New Study by Zpyrme and Smart Grid Summits   

Survey of 85 water utilities conducted on behalf of Sensus, a Xylem brand

A report released by Sensus, a Xylem brand, finds that most water utilities believe the Internet of Things (IoT) is an important technology trend (79 percent). In the report, Utility Innovation Series: Water Utility Outlook, one third of the respondents say they have a good understanding of what IoT can do for their organizations (37 percent) and 30 percent have developed a comprehensive IoT strategy.

“The water sector has faced a number of challenges in recent years—from severe and pervasive droughts to aging infrastructure,” said Dan Pinney, Director, Global Water Marketing at Sensus. “Utilities are seeing the value of using smart water technologies and the Internet of Things to address these challenges and promote operational efficiency, customer service and resource conservation.”

Zpryme and Smart Grid Summits (SGS) surveyed 85 U.S. water utilities on behalf of Sensus to assess industry perspectives and progress regarding smart water systems, of which IoT is a key part. The survey also asked questions about the top benefits of smart water technologies, the status of customer engagement efforts and managed services, and the challenges to approaching new technology investments. The survey seeks to measure the current and future state of the industry.

Download the full report here.

Key findings include:

  • Respondents say that the top three benefits of smart water technologies are automated meter reads (69 percent), improved customer service (64 percent) and analytics-based decision making (50 percent)
  • Many water utilities are regularly using websites (85 percent), social media (56 percent) and email (46 percent) to increase customer engagement
  • There is a growing popularity in managed services (36 percent)
  • The main challenge to technology adoption is the cost (78 percent), followed by business model (43 percent)

“Although cost is the most important concern, we’re seeing that it really comes down to building a business case for technologies that support IoT,” said H. Christine Richards, research director, Zpryme. “It is exciting to watch the continued adoption of new technologies by U.S. water utilities.”

About Sensus

Sensus, a Xylem brand, helps a wide range of public service providers—from utilities to cities to industrial complexes and campuses—do more with their infrastructure to improve quality of life in their communities. We enable our customers to reach farther through the application of technology and data-driven insights that deliver efficiency and responsiveness. We partner with them to anticipate and respond to evolving business needs with innovation in sensing and communications technologies, data analytics and services.

About Zpryme

Residing in Austin, Zpryme is a research, media, and events agency with a focus on energy. Based on the creative direction of our associates Zpryme, produces influential research, Energy Thought Summit (ETS), and premium branding experiences that challenge the status quo. Learn more at zpryme.com

Media contacts

Zpryme

Paula Smith

Sr. Research Analyst

Paula.smith@zpryme.com

Sensus

Linda Palmer

Director, Corporate Communications

(919) 845-4021

linda.palmer@sensus.com