Gregg Herrin, Bentley Systems vice president for water, highlights a few case studies where digital twins helped cities conserve water. This is the second in a three-part series of his op-ed, which has been slightly edited for brevity. Read the first part here.
Companhia Águas de Joinville (CAJ) supplies water and sanitation services to approximately 600,000 residents of Joinville, a thriving municipality in Santa Catarina, South Brazil. In 2020, Joinville experienced the worst drought in 30 years, with one of the city’s two main water systems—the Pirai River—dropping to unprecedented low levels. The drought drastically impacted water production and sanitation, threatening the health and quality of life for Joinville citizens.
Using Bentley's hydraulic modeling application, the CAJ team created a digital twin of the city's water distribution system, enabling advanced modeling and simulation.
With the digital twin, CAJ engineers devised a new contingency plan—at near-zero carbon cost of implementation, no less—that saved BRL 4.5 million, by optimising existing infrastructure and reducing the need for new construction. It helped CAJ understand current system conditions, including flow rates, pressures, and water quality, enabling proactive management and scenario analysis.
Reducing wastage
This helped them identify ways to optimise network efficiency, reduce unnecessary water production by 30% during droughts, decrease water loss by 40,000m3 per month, and minimise water shortage complaints by 90%. Additionally, the project helped cut annual carbon emissions by 169 tons.
By leveraging advanced hydraulic modeling that is integrated into a digital twin, CAJ can now ensure a cleaner, sustainable water distribution to Joinville—meaningfully improving the environment and citizens’ lives.
The Sacramento Regional Sanitation Department began upgrading its water management infrastructure in 2010 to address California’s chronic water shortages. The EchoWater Project, a US$2.1bn initiative managed by Project Controls Cubed (PC3), aimed to meet new discharge standards and provide high-quality recycled water for local agriculture.
The project involved 22 engineering initiatives at an active wastewater treatment plant. A digital twin was used for planning, coordination, and cost control, saving US$400mn, which funded the Harvest Water program. This initiative provided clean water for agricultural and conservation use, irrigating up to 16,000 acres in southern Sacramento County.
Next: The future of water management and why action is needed now
A look at how digital twins optimise water management
Bentley's software helps in optimising water management. (Image source: Canva Pro)
