Smart Water Management: Truly Intelligent or Just Another Pretty Name?

This book discusses the suitability and challenges of the Smart Water Management (SWM) approach, which uses Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide real-time, automated data to address water challenges. It includes examples of SWM systems in practice from diverse locations but raises concerns about the need for smart institutions, the application of SWM to dysfunctional infrastructure systems, and potential moral hazards.

Format: Hardback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 22 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the ongoing discussion surrounding the appropriateness and complexities of the Smart Water Management (SWM) approach. Promoted as a means to efficiently and cost-effectively manage water and wastewater in urban contexts at regional or city scales, while also reducing overall consumption, Smart Water Management has gained significant attention within industries and utilities. At its core, this approach relies on the utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide real-time, automated data-driven solutions to water-related challenges. While these technologies offer immense potential, they are often complex and costly, leading to the potential oversight of more affordable and less high-tech (softer) approaches that can effectively address the same problems.

Despite these challenges, the book presents compelling examples of SWM systems in operation across diverse locations, including Korea, Mexico, Paris, the Canary Islands, and southern Africa. These examples showcase the adaptability of SWM to address a wide range of problems, ranging from monitoring water supply to refugees. However, critical voices within the book raise important points of contention. They emphasize the importance of establishing smart institutions alongside smart technologies to ensure effective implementation. They question the rationale of applying SWM to dysfunctional legacy infrastructure systems, raising concerns about potential moral hazards associated with its adoption. Additionally, some argue that SWM represents a new iteration of hegemonic masculinity in water management, perpetuating dominant power structures and overlooking the diverse needs and perspectives of marginalized communities.

The chapters in this book were originally published in Water International, a renowned peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of water-related issues. By compiling these insightful contributions, the book provides a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to navigate the challenges and opportunities of Smart Water Management in today's rapidly changing water landscape.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 252 x 180 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032345734