Universal Automation: Opportunities for Industrial Water

A host of digital technologies and services exist to simplify and optimize clean water and wastewater operations. Software can control industrial processes inside of plants and help reduce costs and optimize water management processes. For many water utilities, digital transformation efforts are well underway. Up to this point however, the benefits to their counterparts at industrial facilities have been less transparent. In total, industrial water facilities in the U.S. are expected to spend over US$262 billion between 2024 and 2030 on operational expenses such as labor, chemicals, and energy. They are also expected to use over 58 trillion gallons (220 billion cubic meters) of water per year. A new approach to automation can help these industries through water, energy, and chemical savings. Also important are for industrial facilities to apply the principles of universal automation, where open automation is defined by the software and not the hardware. Universal automation software helps extend the lifespan of hardware and limit future capital expenditures.