Smart Cities Unit- 3

The Role of Water in India's Smart Cities

Water is predicted to become a key part of India’s Smart Cities initiative. This article looks at ow Smart
Water Networks (SWN) can be developed to help advance the water sector, including to reduce an
average non-revenue water (NRW) rate of 60%.

Today, cities around the world are expected to deliver clean, pressurized and reliable water to heir
residents’ taps on a daily basis. However, with increasing urbanization and population owth leading to
rising costs and water scarcity, cities are struggling to meet customer demands. By 2050, 75% of the
world population will live in cities. These cities will face increasing water stress with demand expected to
outstrip supply by 40% by 2030.
In India, demand already exceeds supply. While its economy is amongst the fastest growing in the world,
with almost 76 million people, India also has the greatest amount of people living without access to safe
water.
With these and other constraints, as well as consequent opportunities to address them, several countries
such as India are striving to build “Smart Cities” to integrate city functions, utilize scarce resources more
efficiently and improve citizen quality of life. Water is a significant aspect in all these Smart City efforts.
Cities face an ever-increasing array of ways to collect data and feed it into their decision-making. A Smart
City links multiple systems within a network to share data across platforms in order to enhance safety and
security and improve the efficiency of municipal services from energy, transportation, building,
healthcare, public safety and water.
The Smart Cities Council defines a “Smart City” as a city that “uses information and communications
technology (ICT) to enhance its livability, workability and sustainability.”
With in a Smart City, a “Smart Water Network” (SWN) allows cities to better anticipate and react to
different types of water network issues, from detecting leaks, theft and water quality incidents to
conserving energy and tracking residential water consumption.
By monitoring real-time information, city operators can stay informed about what is going on in the field
at all times and respond quickly and appropriately when a problem arises. This results in a city becoming
more efficient and reducing the overall cost of service for the customer. In order to help illustrate how the
different technology components of a SWN interconnect, SWAN devised a five-layer architecture model.
The “Physical” layer comprises the necessary components for delivering water (e.g. pipes, pumps, valves,
PRVs (Pressure Reducing Valves), reservoirs and other delivery endpoints).
The “Sensing and Control” layer contains equipment and sensors that measure parameters (e.g. flow,
pressure, water quality, reservoir levels, water temperature, acoustic information, etc.). This data is then
transmitted and stored through the “Collection and Communications” layer, which includes fixed cable
networks, radio, cellular, and Wi-Fi.
The fourth layer, “Data Management and Display” aggregates data from the below three layers to create
an interface with human operators such as a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system,
GIS (Geographic Information System), network visualization tools, and water balance applications.
The final layer, “Data Fusion and Analysis” is where more sophisticated processing of raw data occurs.
This may include, for example, real-time data analytics, hydraulic modeling, network infrastructure
monitoring, or automatic pressure and energy optimization systems.

SWAN’s Role
To help guide cities on how to successfully adopt a Smart Water Network, SWAN developed the
Interactive Architecture Tool, based on an international survey of 33 cities. Since each city has unique
business drivers and challenges areas, the Tool enables cities to jump directly to a solution that interests
them such as Leak Detection, Water Quality Monitoring, Customer Metering, Energy Management,
Pressure Management, or Water Network Management.
Cities can click on individual technology components within the SWAN five-layer architecture to learn
about their function, benefits, and system requirements, as well as view solution case studies and benefit
analyses. A new Solutions Provider page allows utilities to navigate through a database of smart water
technologies by SWAN member. A Social Forum also now allows users to submit questions that will be
answered by SWAN.
Becoming Resilient
In the future, becoming smart may not be enough, as cities will need to become resilient, as well. The UK
water regulator, Ofwat defines “resilience” as “the ability to cope with, and recover from, disruption, and
anticipate trends and variability in order to maintain services for people and protect the natural
environment, now and in the future”. Resilient goals include economic and social sustainability, quality of
life, efficiency, technology and citizen participation.
Only municipalities with a solid business plan (income, costs, investment) will be able to transform into a
resilient city. To fund resilient cities, it is likely that public investment will not be enough to replace and
maintain infrastructure. One proven solution to develop such projects is by forming public-private
partnerships (PPP). SWAN can assist in this endeavor through its vast network of solution providers and
industry experts. The world is becoming smart, it is time to reinvent our water future.
Natural disasters such as flooding in Kerela, Chennai, and even Bhubaneswar (ranked in our Top 50 for
its Government's commitment to youth-led smart city programmes) remind us of the importance of urban
resilience as a key smart city objective.
Floods will increasingly test even the world's smartest cities in a time of extreme weather. This is critical
not only in India, where more than half of its smart cities are prone to floods, but also among top-ranked
cities such as London, Singapore, and New York.
Smart City Governments therefore need to take a systems-wide view towards preventing similar tragedies
from re-occurring.
1. Intelligence. City officials first have to understand when and where flood are imminent. Kerela was
recently identified among the Indian 10 states most vulnerable to flooding, yet only has a flood
monitoring system, not a flood forecasting system. In contrast, Buenos Aires complements weather
reports and citizen alerts with sensors in over 30,000 storm drains that measure 'live' water levels,
direction, and speed to prioritize areas for emergency response and to restore critical services.
2. Human factors. Sensors and algorithms are also helpful to establish adequate levels of vigilance and
response, either in calibrating the right levels of dam water releases, the maintenance of
watercourses, drainage and sewer networks, or for long term urban and infrastructure planning.
3. Inspiration from nature. As storm water runoff increases due to concrete infrastructure, urban planners
are also incorporating green infrastructure such as avenue trees to reduce flood-related
landslides; permeably-paved roads that limit storm water runoff; retention and detention ponds, green
roofs, and rain gardens to absorb rainwater; landscape elements such as bioswales that remove debris and
pollution from surface runoff water; as well as floodplains that increase the capacity of drainage channels
as a buffer zone, while expanding public spaces.
There are many other solutions that range from better urban planning and regulatory enforcement, to 3D
mapping and simulations, tidal surge barriers, and flood insurance. Rebuilding Kerala will be an
opportunity to explore many of these options.
However, the true resilience of a city is also observed in the response of its people. The floods in Kerela
and Chennai saw not only emergency services but also its people rallying together to help one another,
which was no less a story of humanity worth celebrating than any technological investment.
Smart Water Systems
Smart cities use information and communications technology (ICT) to achieve a sustainable, efficient and
clean water supply. Most people refer to an ICT-enabled water system as a “smart water system” or a
“smart water network.” Smart water is driven by four urgent realities: 1.) water is scarce; 2.) water is at
risk; 3.) water is underpriced; and 4.) water infrastructure is expensive.
Every city must use smart technology to preserve and enhance its water supply while keeping the cost of
water as low as possible. Already we see regions where water periodically becomes scarce. We see
regions where water is prohibitively expensive. For these reasons and many other reasons, every city must
use smart technology to preserve and enhance its water supply while keeping the cost of water as low as
possible. ICT can contribute in at least seven ways:
1. Map and monitor the physical infrastructure. Most water utilities do not know with great
precision where their pipes and valves are located. In particular, they don’t know the actual
 condition of that infrastructure. ICT gives a highly accurate picture of location and health of the
system.
2. Accurately measure what is consumed. Smart water meters can give customers highly accurate
records of their consumption while also helping utilities spot non-revenue water (NRW) that is
being lost to defective equipment, leaks and theft.
3. Monitor drinking water quality. A smart water system can have sensors placed strategically
throughout the network to detect contaminants. Those sensors can monitor the acidity and
alkalinity, watch for biological indicators, measure chlorine and other chemicals and watch for
heavy metals, then alert human operators when problems arise so they can intervene quickly to
mitigate threats.
4. Present, perfect and predict. A smart water system can not only monitor flooding, it can predict it
in time to prepare. Using data from the first two examples above, a smart water system can
present current conditions to give operators full situational awareness; perfect the system by
optimizing it; and predict leaks, floods and equipment failures. “Utilities can achieve better
operations through better knowledge and tighter control of the network’s extensive and complex
assets,” explains the Smart Water Network Forum. Modern “dashboards” and tools can “improve
the efficiency, longevity and reliability of the underlying physical water network by better
measuring, collecting, analyzing and acting upon a wide range of events.”
5. Make better use of diffuse and distributed non-traditional water resources through recapture,
recycling and reuse and through better planning. Water is so much broader than pipes and
treatment plants. Rain falls everywhere — on our rooftops, into our soil, gardens and grass and on
our roads. This water can all be captured and put to use with the help of ICT. Instrumentation
diffused into these “green” water systems can store water, while advanced analytics are critical to
managing this distributed resource. You can have the insight to understand where your green
water systems are, how they are performing and how the water they capture can be best deployed.
6. Better prepare for storms. Some parts of the world —North America for instance — must
confront challenging water quality and storm water regulations. And many parts of the world are
faced with flooding that is reaching new extremes. Smart water systems not only monitor
flooding, they can predict events in time to prepare for flood control and disaster management.
7. Harness the energy and nutrient resources in water and wastewater. ICT helps us capture the full
potential of water. Beyond its own value as a scare resource, water systems house nutrients and
even energy. Technology enables us to reduce and recapture excess kinetic energy in water
supply piping utilizing it to power sensors, recover energy and nutrients in wastewater, and avoid
the damaging dumping of nutrients into carefully balanced ecosystems.

Water Realities
Let’s quickly consider some realities that affect when, where and how a city should approach the
transformation of its water system.
Smart cities “close the loop” around local watersheds. A watershed is the land area that drains into a
particular river, lake or ocean. “Closing the loop” refers to reducing (or even ending) the import of water
from other watersheds while taking full advantage of the water available within the loop. Giving
preference to locally available water allows a city to be more confident in the sustainability of its water
program.
ICT helps cities close the loop by maximizing the potential of non-traditional sources. The idea is to
supplement traditional water sources such as reservoirs and aquifers by capturing storm water runoff, gray
water and purple water and by tapping natural systems like wetlands, rivers and lakes. ICT can oversee
and optimize the capture of water from these sources. Closed-loop systems also use different grades of
water for different needs. For example, treated wastewater isn’t suitable for drinking but may be perfectly
suitable to water crops.
Smart water also requires collaboration. Perhaps more than any other city responsibility, water is a
regional issue. The water source that city residents use to quench their thirst may be the same that a
factory uses for its operations or a farmer to water his crops 100 miles away. Water is tied into vast
watersheds that link many population centers. Because of that, a smart water vision requires a
collaborative approach between cities and a lengthy list of stakeholders.
Smart water requires smart policy. There are many ways that local, regional and national governments
can enhance the prospects for smart water. One instance: policy improvements that clear the way for
public-private partnerships to help with the financing. Another is mandates for efficiency, conservation,
leak reduction or water quality. Yet another is working with suppliers to craft a careful business case that
demonstrates the return on investment.
Whatever steps a city takes, it should not mandate a specific technology. Rather, it should mandate the
results it wants, and then work with advisors and suppliers to determine the best way to achieve that
result.
Smart water may need creative financing and staffing. Many city budgets are under great pressure. Even
if a city can make a strong business case for rapid payback, it may not have the funds to finance the
project. Fortunately, several alternative mechanisms have arisen to lighten that load. For instance, some
suppliers will sell software-as-a-service (SaaS) on a monthly fee basis. This eliminates the need for the
city to make a big capital purchase and install, maintain and update all the hardware and software on its
own. Instead, the supplier handles all that in the cloud, and the city simply pays a monthly charge. In
many ways, this is similar to leasing a car instead of buying it.
Another option is a risk-sharing contract. The city pays a reduced fee to the supplier, and then shares a
portion of the saved costs or additional revenue back to the supplier. It is worth noting that some
developing countries have funding available for infrastructure projects, often thanks to grants and
programs from development banks. Utilities in those regions have the chance to leapfrog the developed
world by jumping straight to a state-of-the-art smart water system. Even cities with adequate funding may
lack adequate in-house ICT skills and personnel to run a sophisticated smart water system. Here again,
SaaS offers a solution.
The Compelling Case for Smarter Water
Non-revenue water (NRW) is a major challenge for water utilities around the world. NRW has a
significant financial impact on utilities and their customers. It also represents the loss of a precious
resource. NRW occurs for a variety of reasons: unmetered consumption (where water meters do not exist
so usage can’t be accurately measured); authorized but unbilled consumption (firefighting, for instance);
apparent losses (water theft and metering inaccuracies); and real losses (leaks and bursts).
A 2011 study by the Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN), an industry advisor to the Smart Cities
Council, compiled NRW losses in urban centers around the world. The findings were staggering. NRW
ranging from 30 percent to 50 percent were not uncommon. Conversely Singapore, which is recognized
as a leader and innovator in smart water, reported NRW losses of just 4 percent.
As Navigant Research analyst Neil Strother states: “Losses from NRW represent $14 billion in missed
revenue opportunity each year, according to the World Bank. The economic case for better water
metering is compelling.”
Smart water meters are only part of the larger market. In 2011, Lux Research said that the market for
technologies to inspect and repair the world’s aging water infrastructure was approaching $20 billion
worldwide and growing at a healthy 10 percent. It reported that many municipalities were desperately
seeking cost-effective new ways to maintain their pipe networks. Lux claimed that the most successful
solutions would be those that can monitor the entire water infrastructure and reveal the sections in most
urgent need of repair.
“Outdated water infrastructure and record deficits are both fueling demand for low-cost inspection and
repair solutions — namely software and sensor technologies that can provide a snapshot of a utility’s
entire infrastructure,” said Brent Giles, a Lux Research senior analyst. “Without this holistic view,
utilities cannot prioritize the most critical repairs — and may end up throwing money down the drain to
address the leaks that are visible today rather than the ones that could prove catastrophic tomorrow.”
The delivery of fresh water to millions of people is increasingly under threat, so smart water management
will be a key policy for the 21st century.
One of the major challenges for sustainable development faced by both developed and developing
countries is to ensure that all people have reliable access to water supply and sanitation services. This
means that water resources have to be managed carefully. The availability of information about
conditions in a particular situation on a timely basis is crucial for decision-making in water resources
management.
Technologies such as satellite remote sensing in combination with semantic sensor web and geographical
information systems (GIS) can be used innovatively by water authorities to obtain information in real
time about water use, to track and forecast the level of rivers and to identify new sources of fresh water.
Web-enabled sensors and communication networks provide an opportunity for water stakeholders to
obtain information in near real time about physical and environmental variables such as temperature, soil
moisture levels and rainfall. Smart metering technologies can also provide individuals, businesses and
water companies with information in near real time about their own water use, thus raising awareness
about usage, locating leakages and offering better control over water demand.
Mapping of water resources, weather forecasting and climate monitoring
Because water resources are finite, water authorities must be able to assess current water supply in order
to determine how to meet future water demands. Mapping of water resources is therefore becoming
increasingly important for water utility companies.
Radio-based ICT systems such as remote sensors are a major source of information about the Earth’s
atmosphere and environmental conditions. Remote sensing technologies coupled with satellite
radiocommunication systems, global positioning systems (GPS) and GIS have been instrumental in
identifying new freshwater sources, building models of watershed basin areas and analysing
environmental problems.
The science of weather forecasting and climate monitoring has benefited greatly from development in
ICT, notably the World Weather Watch system of World Meteorological Organization (WMO).The
World Weather Watch system is made up of three core components:
 The Global Observing System provides high-quality, standardized observations of the atmosphere
and ocean surface from all parts of the globe and from outer space. This system is based on the use of
satellite and ground-based remote sensors (active and passive) employed by the meteorological
satellite, Earth-exploration satellite and meteorological aids radiocommunication services. These
services play a major role in climate monitoring and weather forecasting.
 The Global Telecommunication System provides for the real-time exchange of meteorological
observational data, analysis, warnings and forecasts between national meteorological and
hydrological services.
 The Global Data Processing and Forecasting System provides meteorological analysis, warnings
and forecasts, generated by a network of World Meteorological Centres and specialized Regional
Meteorological Centres.
Major roles of water management
Mapping of water resources and weather forecasting
 Remote sensing from satellites
 In-situ terrestrial sensing systems
 Geographical information systems
 Sensor networks and Internet
Asset management for the water distribution network
 Buried asset identification and electronic tagging
 Smart pipes
 Just in time repairs/Real time risk assessment
Setting up early warning systems and meeting water demand in cities of the future
 Rain/Storm water harvesting
 Flood management
 Managed aquifer recharge
 Smart metering
 Process knowledge systems
Just in time irrigation in agriculture and landscaping
 Geographical information systems
 Sensor networks and Internet

Smart grids
Within ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU–T), Study Group 15 has developed home
networking specifications under the ITU–T G.hnem banner for smart grid products. G.hnem is the new
project “Home Networking Aspects of Energy Management” initiated by ITU–T and the Joint
Coordination Activity on Home Networking (JCA-HN) in January 2010. The main goal of the project is
to define low complexity home networking devices for home automation, home control, electrical
vehicles, and smart grid applications. Among the smart grid applications that will benefit from G.hnem
are:
 utility-based demand response programmes via broadband Internet communications or advanced
metering infrastructure (AMI) systems;
 remote troubleshooting to minimize cost;
 support for real-time demand response systems that compensate users depending on their usage;
 flexible control of appliances to reduce power consumption during peak periods.
In February 2010, ITU–T set up the Focus Group on Smart Grid to identify potential impacts on standards
development in the field (for example, ICT and climate change) and investigate future study items to
support smart grid development.
Asset management for the water distribution network
In order to manage assets, water companies need to have maps of water distribution networks. Having the
maps in electronic format rather than on paper enables water companies to carry out more sophisticated
analysis and respond faster. With standardization of Geography Markup Language (GML) and the
geospatial web already under way, information about water distribution networks can also be provided
over the Internet via mobile devices. This enables field workers to access operation and maintenance
information more effectively.
Setting up early warning systems and meeting water demand in cities
Cities that are located in low-lying regions close to the coast or along river deltas face the danger of
flooding. These areas are often secured with water-retaining infrastructure (levees).
Early warning systems have an important role in mitigating risks through early detection of conditions
that might lead to a disaster, and by providing real-time information during an event. Sensors can also
help in monitoring the structural integrity of levees and dams. The ability to predict whether water-
retaining infrastructure can withhold the mounting pressure of rising waters is essential in order to be able
to give enough time for a large-scale evacuation if the need arises
By digitizing information obtained from remote sensing satellites about the geography and hydrology of
the land, data on such aspects as rock structure, land use and drainage basins can be analyzed in the
context of water table conditions and rainfall levels. This makes it possible to produce composite maps
showing suitable sites for the construction of artificial recharge structures. In 2008, for example, managed
aquifer recharge contributed 45 gigalitres to irrigation supplies and 7 gigalitres to urban water supplies in
Australia.
Smart water-metering technology can enable water utility companies to track usage more accurately at the
consumer end, and implement water-pricing plans to encourage water conservation. Rather than receiving
their water bills at the end of the quarter or the month, consumers will be able to track their water usage in
real time and thus be able to take action much earlier in case of leakages. Developing countries lose as
much as 50 per cent of treated water as a result of leaks in the distribution system or theft. This loss could
be partly prevented by using better measurement techniques. In developed countries, installing a meter in
a house so that people can see how much water they are using can reduce consumption by around 10 per
cent.

Water use in manufacturing plants can also be managed more efficiently using ICT. Every manufacturing
plant, whether making steel, paper, oil or microchips, uses water in some capacity during its operations.
Industrial water is essential for the businesses that use it. For example, cooling water systems are essential
in many industrial plants. Proper operation of the cooling system is needed to minimize the impact of
total operational costs related to water and energy consumption, chemicals and wastewater discharge.
Process software can be used in managing automation and control systems, including turbine control
systems that help improve plant performance and thus optimize water consumption. Such systems also
provide information in real time about current conditions, sending alerts about potentially dangerous
events.
Just in time irrigation in agriculture and landscaping
Agriculture accounts worldwide for about 70 per cent of all water use. The key to avoiding water wastage
is to know the right time to irrigate and the volume of water to be used. Wireless sensors can be placed on
crops and in the soil to monitor humidity levels and soil moisture. Such sensors can automatically activate
the valves of the irrigation system on a needs basis.
When connected to the Internet, sensors monitoring factors such as soil moisture, crop water retention,
weather information and plant characteristics, allow for remote management of the system. This type of
sensor network is also applied in landscaping and in sports ground maintenance, for example in football
grounds and golf courses.
countries.
SMART WATER MANAGEMENT USING INTERNET OF THINGS TECHNOLOGIES

Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage
within a region, which is, according to the “United Nations Development Programme,” caused mainly by
poor management of those resources, affecting around 1.2 billion people around the world.
The Internet of Things as a technology holds great potential to solve life-threatening problems in various
angles of our daily life of which is the “Water Scarcity” through smart, instant and predictable
management.
In every part of the water cycle, IoT can be utilized to manage water resources better and reach efficient
and optimal results.

The current authorities’ behavior towards water management somehow lacks the proper tools to analyze
trends and behavior of people that results in weak water distribution programs and plans.
On the other hand, the consumer lack proper tools to stay tuned and alerted to water usage and
consumption as well as storage remaining capacity, factors that add to improper water consumption.
HOW THE INTERNET OF THINGS ASSISTS IN DETERMINING WATER DEMAND IN A CITY?
One of the crucial challenges of water management, as well as conservation in a city, is to determine the
amount of water that any particular city is going to utilize during the next day. This can be calculated to
precision with the use of predictive analytics. This is done by keeping a track on the history of water
consumption in the city on any given day. Based on the historical data collected and analyzed by
predictive analytics and combined with the consideration of special events, holidays, as well as the
weather in that city, authorities can determine the amount of water that the entire population is going to
consume in one day.
When we know the amount of water that is required for overall consumption in a city on any given day, it
becomes easy for the water authorities to maintain the level of water in a water reservoir/ tank and then
pump the water into overhead tanks as required throughout the day.
INTERNET OF THINGS AND SMART IRRIGATION
Currently, we can all witness water waste in the irrigation process-taking place where it is based on
automated scheduling patterns. This means the irrigation process will happen at a particular time and for a
fixed duration regardless of weather conditions and soil wetness.
On the other hand, the Internet of Things can be used for getting the right amount of water at the right
destination for the right duration and only when needed. This will be the job of special soil sensors and
weather sensors that will communicate their readings to a particular server that can, in turn, read weather
forecasts in the city to determine the right irrigation decision which will result in commanding the
watering valve to open and close.
AMONG THE BENEFITS OF INDUSTRIAL IOT
Internet of Things technology also helps in scheduling the maintenance as well as the shutdown of pumps
on a regular basis. There are optimization techniques that can beforehand convey to the residents of a city
regarding the unavailability of water during any particular point in time. This helps the water regulation
authorities not only in meeting the adequate water demands in a city; rather it also aids in the conservation
of resources and energy.
Another advantage of the Internet of Things in water management is the reduction in energy pricing and
consumption. Predictive analytics can be used to calculate the price of energy during different hours in a
day. This information can then be used for scheduling the pumps throughout a day in such a way that
there is no loss of additional energy or resources.
This is just the start in discovering the potential benefits on our daily life using this revolutionary and
disruptive IoT technology.
The Real-time Hydrological Data Acquisition and Processing System gathers water level, water
quality, and other data via satellite imaging and other communication technologies
The Precipitation Forecasting System measures and predicts rainfall.
The Flood Analysis System provides real-time flood analysis for flood control.
The Reservoir Water Supply System optimizes water supply by estimating demand.
The Generation Integrated Operation System monitors dam and weir operations remotely.
Satellite-based Flood Forecasting and Warning Equipment provides flood forecasts and early warning
through satellite data.
The Water Disaster Monitoring System offers monitoring of hydrological data through a (geographic
information system) GIS, CCTV cameras, and other tools.
Solid Waste Management
Solid waste management is a term that is used to refer to the process of collecting and treating solid
wastes. It also offers solutions for recycling items that do not belong to garbage or trash. As long as
people have been living in settlements and residential areas, garbage or solid waste has been an issue.
Waste management is all about how solid waste can be changed and used as a valuable resource. Solid
waste management should be embraced by each and every household including the business owners
across the world. Industrialization has brought a lot of good things and bad things as well. One of the
negative effects of industrialization is the creation of solid waste.

Various Sources of Solid Waste

Everyday, tonnes of solid waste is disposed off at various landfill sites. This waste comes from homes,
offices, industries and various other agricultural related activities. These landfill sites produce foul
smell if waste is not stored and treated properly. It can pollute the surrounding air and can seriously affect
the health of humans, wildlife and our environment. The following are major sources of solid waste:
Residential
Residences and homes where people live are some of the major sources of solid waste. Garbage from
these places include food wastes, plastics, paper, glass, leather, cardboard, metals, yard wastes, ashes and
special wastes like bulky household items like electronics, tires, batteries, old mattresses and used oil.
Most homes have garbage bins where they can throw away their solid wastes in and later the bin is
emptied by a garbage collecting firm or person for treatment.
Industrial
Industries are known to be one of the biggest contributors of solid waste. They include light and heavy
manufacturing industries, construction sites, fabrication plants, canning plants, power and chemical
plants. These industries produce solid waste in form of housekeeping wastes, food wastes, packaging
wastes, ashes, construction and demolition materials, special wastes, medical wastes as well as other
hazardous wastes.
Commercial
Commercial facilities and buildings are yet another source of solid waste today. Commercial buildings
and facilities in this case refer to hotels, markets, restaurants, go downs, stores and office buildings. Some
of the solid wastes generated from these places include plastics, food wastes, metals, paper, glass, wood,
cardboard materials, special wastes and other hazardous wastes.
Institutional
The institutional centers like schools, colleges, prisons, military barracks and other government centers
also produce solid waste. Some of the common solid wastes obtained from these places include glass,
rubber waste, plastics, food wastes, wood, paper, metals, cardboard materials, electronics as well
as various hazardous wastes.
Construction and Demolition Areas
Construction sites and demolition sites also contribute to the solid waste problem. Construction sites
include new construction sites for buildings and roads, road repair sites, building renovation sites and
building demolition sites. Some of the solid wastes produced in these places include steel materials,
concrete, wood, plastics, rubber, copper wires, dirt and glass.
Municipal services
The urban centers also contribute immensely to the solid waste crisis in most countries today. Some of the
solid waste brought about by the municipal services include, street cleaning, wastes from parks and
beaches, wastewater treatment plants, landscaping wastes and wastes from recreational areas including
sludge.
Treatment Plants and Sites
Heavy and light manufacturing plants also produce solid waste. They include refineries, power plants,
processing plants, mineral extraction plants and chemicals plants. Among the wastes produced by these
plants include, industrial process wastes, unwanted specification products, plastics, metal parts just to
mention but a few.
Agriculture
Crop farms, orchards, dairies, vineyards and feedlots are also sources of solid wastes. Among the wastes
they produce include agricultural wastes, spoiled food, pesticide containers and other hazardous materials.
Biomedical
This refers to hospitals and biomedical equipment and chemical manufacturing firms. In hospitals there
are different types of solid wastes produced. Some of these solid wastes include syringes, bandages, used
gloves, drugs, paper, plastics, food wastes and chemicals. All these require proper disposal or else they
will cause a huge problem to the environment and the people in these facilities.
Effects of Poor Solid Waste Management
Due to improper waste disposal systems particularly by municipal waste management teams, wastes heap
up and become a problem. People clean their homes and places of work and litter their
surroundings which affects the environment and the community.
This type of dumping of waste materials forces biodegradable materials to rot and decompose under
improper, unhygienic and uncontrolled conditions. After a few days of decomposition, a foul smell is
produced and it becomes a breeding ground for different types of disease causing insects as well as
infectious organisms. On top of that, it also spoils the aesthetic value of the area.
Solid wastes from industries are a source of toxic metals, hazardous wastes, and chemicals. When
released to the environment, the solid wastes can cause biological and physicochemical problems to
the environment and may affect or alter the productivity of the soils in that particular area.
Toxic materials and chemicals may seep into the soil and pollute the ground water. During the
process of collecting solid waste, the hazardous wastes usually mix with ordinary garbage and other
flammable wastes making the disposal process even harder and risky.
When hazardous wastes like pesticides, batteries containing lead, mercury or zinc, cleaning solvents,
radioactive materials, e-waste and plastics are mixed up with paper and other scraps are burned they
produce dioxins and gasses. These toxic gases have a potential of causing various diseases including
cancer.
Methods of Solid Waste Management
There are different methods of solid waste management. The following are some of the recognized
methods:
Sanitary Landfill
This is the most popular solid waste disposal method used today. Garbage is basically spread out in thin
layers, compressed and covered with soil or plastic foam. Modern landfills are designed in such a way
that the bottom of the landfill is covered with an impervious liner which is usually made of several layers
of thick plastic and sand. This liner protects the ground water from being contaminated because of
leaching or percolation. When the landfill is full, it is covered with layers of sand, clay, top soil and
gravel to prevent seepage of water.
Incineration
This method involves burning of solid wastes at high temperatures until the wastes are turned into ashes.
Incinerators are made in such a way that they do not give off extreme amounts of heat when burning solid
wastes. This method of solid waste management can be done by individuals, municipalities and even
institutions. The good thing about this method is the fact that it reduces the volume of waste up to 20 or
30% of the original volume.
Recovery and Recycling
Recycling or recovery of resources is the process of taking useful but discarded items for next use.
Traditionally, these items are processed and cleaned before they are recycled. The process aims at
reducing energy loss, consumption of new material and reduction of landfills.
Composting
Due to lack of adequate space for landfills, biodegradable yard waste is allowed to decompose in a
medium designed for the purpose. Only biodegradable waste materials are used in composting. Good
quality environmentally friendly manure is formed from the compost and can be used for agricultural
purposes.
Pyrolysis
This is method of solid waste management whereby solid wastes are chemically decomposed by heat
without presence of oxygen. This usually occurs under pressure and at temperatures of up to 430 degrees
Celsius. The solid wastes are changed into gasses, solid residue and small quantities of liquid.
In summary, proper solid waste management is an integral part of environmental conservation that should
be observed by individuals and companies globally. This will keep the environment clean and reduce
health and settlement problems.
Functional Elements of the Waste Management System
There are six functional components of the waste management system as outlined below:
1. Waste generation refers to activities involved in identifying materials which are no longer usable
and are either gathered for systematic disposal or thrown away.
2. Onsite handling, storage, and processing are the activities at the point of waste generation
which facilitate easier collection. For example, waste bins are placed at the sites which generate
sufficient waste.
3. Waste collection, a crucial phase of waste management, includes activities such as placing waste
collection bins, collecting waste from those bins and accumulating trash in the location where the
collection vehicles are emptied. Although the collection phase involves transportation, this is
typically not the main stage of waste transportation.
1. Waste transfer and transport are the activities involved in moving waste from the local waste
collection locations to the regional waste disposal site in large waste transport vehicles.
2. Waste processing and recovery refer to the facilities, equipment, and techniques employed both
to recover reusable or recyclable materials from the waste stream and to improve the
effectiveness of other functional elements of waste management.
3. Disposal is the final stage of waste management. It involves the activities aimed at the systematic
disposal of waste materials in locations such as landfills or waste-to-energy facilities.
Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM)
As the field of solid waste management advances, solutions are being looked at in a more systematic and
holistic way. ISWM, for example, is an increasingly important term in the field of waste management. It
refers to the selection and use of appropriate management programs, technologies, and techniques to
achieve particular waste management goals and objectives. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) states that ISWA is composed of waste source reduction, recycling, waste combustion, and
landfills.
These activities can be done in either interactive or hierarchical way.
On a closing note, it is important to stress that better solid waste management programs are urgently
needed in some countries. Only about half of the waste generated in cities and one-quarter of that
produced in rural areas is collected. Internationally, the World Bank warns that global waste
could increase by 70% by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario.
The Waste and Recycling Industry and the Internet of Things
Internet-enabled cans, carts, trucks and other pieces of equipment could lead to increased efficiency and
lowered costs for the sector.
The trend of putting a wider variety of devices online—the so-called Internet of Things—continues to
spread. Increasingly, household devices are now internet enabled, allowing users to control them remotely
or get alerts if something is amiss. Devices increasingly collect new streams of data that can be analyzed
to change behaviors or purchasing decisions. The waste and recycling industry is also being affected, with
trucks, containers of all sizes and other pieces of equipment increasingly becoming part of this Internet of
Things.
Within the waste and recycling industry, a few key categories have emerged where objects connected to
the internet are affecting operations and efficiencies. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology
on carts helps track those assets in the field and can be used by haulers to confirm that addresses have
been serviced.
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Sensors that detect fill levels of all types of containers are a second category. These hardy devices let
haulers know how full carts or cans are so that pickups can be optimized. The aggregation of data on how
fast certain carts fill can also be used to predict future pickup schedules and make routes more efficient.
 Garbage trucks themselves are increasingly wired. Dispatchers can track trucks in the field. Advanced
telematics systems can let maintenance shops know about issues as they occur (or even before they
become bigger problems), allowing for more predictive maintenance and less downtime.
Lastly, when it comes to organics, small digesters installed in commercial operations often include
sensors that can analyze what’s being passed into them. Crunching the numbers can inform generators
how to reduce how much food they waste.
The Use of RFID
RFID technology systems are being integrated into waste haulers’ and municipalities’ customer
relationship management (CRM) and billing system to improve customer service and billing accuracy.
RFID technology uses electromagnetic fields to identify and track tags attached to objects. The tags
contain electronically stored information.
Many cart manufacturers, for example, use RFID technology on assets to confirm delivery and track
assets in the field.
 Rehrig Pacific Co. developed the Container Asset Recovery Tracking System (CARTS). The proprietary
system enables a series of services. It allows users to conduct residential surveys to gather feedback on
services, determine interest in new programs or select a container size. It allows tracking of container
shipments and managing inventory levels at distribution centers. Container deliveries are recorded in real
time by using handheld scanners in conjunction with CARTS. It can generate daily distribution reports
that include household address, container serial number, RFID tag number, type, size, date and time of
delivery.
 Cascade Cart Solutions’ (CCS) offering includes the Extreme Tag RFID tag and the CartLogic asset
management software. CCS’ CartLogic allows management of cart services and location information
using RFID technology, GPS systems and cloud computing. Each time a delivery, swap, repair or
removal is made the cart’s RFID tag is scanned (or a serial number is entered) and the cart's location and
type of service provided is recorded, generating a service history log for each cart, whether in the field or
at the yard. This information synchronizes with CartLogic's cloud-managed platform, storing all cart
inventory data online.
 Otto also offers a variety of container management solutions. It can confirm delivery for carts. Then, real-
time service verification allows orders to be updated and closed—all while in the field using handheld
devices.
 SSI Schaefer’s waste technology division, meanwhile, developed WISTAR Technology, which includes
RFID tags on carts and proprietary software with a variety of capabilities. The company’s RFID-enabled
waste carts provide real-time managed assembly and distribution, GPS location, revenue audits, online
reports and inventory management.
 Toter has its ToterTrax system that includes the embedding of an RFID tag into the handle of each Toter
cart during the manufacturing process. As each cart is delivered to a specific address, the crew scans the
cart’s RFID tag with the ToterTrax mobile app portion of the system to register that it’s been delivered.
The ToterTrax app then retrieves the RFID data, serial number, geo coordinates of location (where the
cart was scanned) and time stamp (when cart was scanned) and sends this data through a Bluetooth
connection to the ToterTrax web portal. This allows real-time monitoring of cart delivery and rollout.
RFID codes on carts are also used by haulers to confirm when pickups have been performed.
In typical industry applications, inexpensive RFID tags are affixed to residential carts and commercial
containers, while waste and/or recycling trucks are equipped with RFID readers. When a cart or container
is serviced, the RFID reader recognizes and records the RFID tag. The RFID tag and the geo-coordinates
for the location of the service are then sent back to a central database.
Additionally, RFID is used to measure set-out rates by customers, and knowledge of how many carts are
serviced by each truck helps improve operational efficiency by balancing the workload per truck.
Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) in Morton Grove, Ill., for example, uses UHF RFID-tagged waste
and recycling carts that transmit information—including the resident’s address, name and date—to a
reader located on the arm that lifts the carts for service. The cart’s chip also distinguishes whether it’s
waste or recycling. When each route is closed out at the end of the day, the information is collected,
disseminated and processed by LRS’ software for the sake of billing.
When it comes to the trucks themselves, the ultimate technology would be self-driving trucks.
While Volvo announced an initiative with Renova to test an autonomous refuse truck in May, widespread
adoption of this kind of technology is still years away.
But there are ways today’s trucks are already wired.
Performance information, such as fuel mileage, idle time and PTO operation, have been recorded for quite
some time, but now with wireless/mobile technology that information is gathered and analyzed in real
time.
Trucks can communicate performance, diagnostics, location and other information in real time. If there
are issues that arise, maintenance shops can be notified while the truck is still on the road.
They can determine quickly if it’s something that needs to be serviced right away or if it can wait until the
end of the route. And since the problem is identified in advance, they can prepare to make any fixes
before the truck is back in the shop, reducing downtime.
Wired trucks also work seamlessly with fleet maintenance software offerings.
The latest software solutions provide asset monitoring, truck maintenance, billing and invoicing, which
can lead to improved safety, productivity and profitability for waste and recycling companies.
Michelin has now even started adding RFID tags to its tires. RFID tags allow fleets to better track their
tire assets and better understand the lifecycle of their tire casings.

Objective Type Questions:

1. _____________ that is being lost to defective equipment leaks and theft.
2. NRW stands for___________
3. Which is the first state in India to make roof top rain water harvesting compulsory to all the
houses?
a) Tamil Nadu b) Kerala c) Assam d) Goa
4. In the Smart Water Network __________ layer comprises the necessary components for
delivering water
5. GIS stands for ____________
6. In the Smart Water Network _________ layer contains equipment and sensors that measure
parameters
7. Smart water management can identify
a)flow, pressure b) water quality, reservoir levels
c) water temperature, acoustic information d)all of the above
8. In the Smart Water Network data is then transmitted and stored through the _________ layer.
9. In the Smart Water Network___________________layer aggregates data
10. In the Smart Water Network __________ is where more sophisticated processing of raw data
occurs.
11. AMI stands for ________
12. With standardization of ______________information about water distribution networks can also
be provided over the Internet via mobile devices
13. GML stands for___________
14. The _______________ gathers water level, water quality, and other data via satellite imaging and
other communication technologies
Real-time Hydrological Data Acquisition and Processing System
Precipitation Forecasting System
Flood Analysis System
Reservoir Water Supply System
15. The ____________ measures and predicts rainfall.
Real-time Hydrological Data Acquisition and Processing System
 Precipitation Forecasting System
Flood Analysis System
Reservoir Water Supply System
16. The ________ provides real-time flood analysis for flood control.
17. The ______________optimizes water supply by estimating demand.
18. Satellite-based Flood Forecasting and Warning Equipment provides ___________ through
satellite data.
19. The ____________ offers monitoring of hydrological data through a (geographic information
system) GIS, CCTV cameras, and other tools.
20. _____________refers to activities involved in identifying materials which are no longer usable
and are either gathered for systematic disposal or thrown away.
Waste generation
Onsite handling, storage, and processing
Waste collection
Waste transfer and transport
21. _____________ are the activities at the point of waste generation which facilitate easier
collection.
22. __________are the activities involved in moving waste from the local waste collection locations
to the regional waste disposal site in large waste transport vehicles.
Onsite handling, storage, and processing
Waste collection
Waste transfer and transport
Waste processing and recovery

23. ISWM stands for__________

24. _____________which allow automated and secured readings and improved communications
between users and the central management, is one key enabling technology.
25. __________compiles data from Pollution and Water Quality Control, AMI, Weather Forecasting
Systems, Modeling and Water Channel Behaviors.
26. Decision Support Systems (DSS)___________
27. AMI stands for__________
28. The first is the developing a collaboration governance and decision-making framework ISWM
and the KPI of performance are developed and agreed by _________________.
29. Organic waste are____________
a) Waste from preparation of food b) Metal, tin cans c) animals and livestock d) battery acid
30. Hazardous waste are____________
a)Oil, battery acid b) Metal, tin cans c) animals and livestock d) Roofing, rubble

Short Answer Type Questions

1. How can governments and water authorities implement an ISWM?

2. Define the role of Real-time Hydrological Data Acquisition and Processing System .
3. Memorize about Precipitation Forecasting System .
4. What is the use of Flood Analysis System .
5. Define the Reservoir Water Supply System .The Generation Integrated Operation
System monitors dam and weir operations remotely.
6. What is the use of Satellite-based Flood Forecasting and Warning Equipment .
7. How is decision taken in water management issues? By what procedures?
8. Explain about NRW.
9. List the different kind of layer in Smart Water Network.
10. List the Principles of Smart Water
11. Principles of smart waste-water
12. Principles of Smart Municipal Solid Waste Mangement
13. How RFID works in Solid Waste Mangement
14. Write about Compelling Case for Smarter Water
15. List the different kinds of IoT technologies in smart water management
16. Define Solid Waste Management
17. List the six functional components of the waste management system.
18. Define Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM)
19. Explain about Waste and Recycling Industry and the Internet of Things
20. Draw the cycle diagram for change in the rainfall pattern is the decrease of run-off water, which
may affect large agricultural areas.
21. Explain the ISWM Main Architectural Components
22. Explain the ISWM Services and Sub-Systems
23. What is the role of GIS in SWM.
24. How Smart Metering works in Water management ?
25. Different categories of solid waste include:
26. Draw the flow chart for establish effective solid waste management .
27. what are the Key components of solid waste management.
28. List the Methods of Solid Waste Management.
29. write about Functional Elements of the Waste Management System
30. Explain the relation between Waste and Recycling Industry and the Internet of things.
Long Answer Type Questions
1) Illustrates the challenges for water use and intelligent water system concept.
2) Explain about specific technologies for smart water use in smart cities.
3) Explain about key technical issues in leakage and pressure management
4) Discuss the process of water quality management .
5) Discuss about smart solutions and emerging in the solid waste management
6) Explain briefly about technologies to process waste, garbage collection.
7) Discuss the Sources and types of solid waste in India .
8) Explain the relation between Waste and Recycling Industry and the Internet of things
9) Explain about Compelling Case for Smarter Water.
10) How RFID works in Solid Waste Management System? Explain.