Smart Business

Chapter 5. Conserve Water with IoT

In addition to energy and fuel, water is another key input to small businesses that carries financial and environmental costs. Whether it’s being used to irrigate crops or landscaped grounds, keep people and equipment cool, manufacture goods, clean items, prepare food, offer refreshment, or provide sanitation, businesses depend on water in ways that often go unnoticed. It’s a resource that’s easy to take for granted in a country like the US where, historically, supplies have seemed boundless. With many of today’s changing conditions—a warming climate and increased demand to support growing populations and economies, freshwater supplies are in decline and the price of accessing them is on the rise. That’s why more businesses are prizing solutions that enable them to optimize water use, maintain operational continuity, and keep expenses in check.

It’s hard to believe that access to water is even an issue on our planet. This big, blue orb circling the sun that we call Earth is covered with water. However, the issue is real. To put it in perspective, it may be helpful to look at some statistics provided by the US Geological Survey. Nearly all of the planet’s water, more than 96.5 percent, is in oceans, seas, and bays. This is salt water, and without treatment, it’s not viable for human consumption. It’s also difficult to use in most commercial and agricultural applications because of its corrosive nature and the contaminants it leaves behind. Freshwater ...