AT&T, IBM, Mueller Water Products Helps Cities Save Water

AT&T, IBM and Mueller Water Products have developed new technology to help cities manage water and prevent leaks using the Internet of Things (IoT).

The companies tested the technology in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The system uses Echologics sensors and sound technology from Mueller Water Products with AT&T’s LTE wireless network to detect water pressure, temperature and leaks. The IBM Water Management Center brings all sources of water data together. It gives a complete view of past, present and future performance, the company says.

“A typical water pipe leak wastes almost 400,000 gallons of water per year,” says Mike Troiano, vice president, AT&T Industrial IoT Solutions.

Charles Scott, engineering project manager, Las Vegas Valley Water District, says the technology has helped the water district better monitor the pipe for small, subsurface leaks and fix them before they develop into larger leaks.

In April, IBM announced it will invest $3 billion over the next four years to establish a new IoT unit, and that it is building a cloud-based open platform designed to help clients and ecosystem partners build IoT systems.

A suit of tools produced by AT&T and Environmental Defense Fund can help US commercial buildings collectively save up to 28 billion gallons of water annually, according to the organizations.