Chapter 8: Digital Water Architecture

Water is an essential component of life and plays a crucial role in chemical processes like thermal energy generation. It is also utilized for both manufacturing and domestic purposes. However, water is scarce, and water utilities, including Johannesburg Water, face difficulties in distributing it. In South Africa, the issues of water management and distribution are well documented, with over 40% water loss and limited resources on the supply side. These losses result in financial losses and negative environmental impacts. To address these challenges, new technologies are available under the 4IR. However, implementing these technologies poses challenges. Johannesburg Water recognized the need to collaborate with 4IR experts to harness the benefits of the new era. They partnered with the University of Johannesburg to conduct research and consultation, focusing on developing a comprehensive digital architecture to address the challenges. A case study entity will be used to test the effectiveness of the single architecture