Fresh water is critical to our health, communities, and economic future. The global supply of this precious resource is under constant threat from increasing demands for human and industrial uses, and from growing pressures fueled by climate change. According to a 2016 United Nations Report, water consumption is predicted to rise 85 per cent by 2030 with demand expected to outstrip supply by more than 40 per cent.  

Monitoring water use and supply is essential for overcoming these challenges. Collecting data can also provide a real-time view of ecosystem health and better inform water use, conservation, and management. 

Carl Data Solutions is leading this project in partnership with Teck Resources Ltd., Microsoft, Astra Smart Systems, i4C Innovation, Living Lakes Canada, the University of Victoria and Genome BC. The goal is to develop and deploy a platform for harnessing water monitoring data from Columbia Basin in southeastern B.C – a region with remote wilderness as well as large industrial water sites – to better understand the health of the surrounding ecosystem. 

Existing data, monitoring and water management systems from the region’s municipalities, industry, and regulators are all connected in this project and their information is stored centrally and securely in the cloud.  

The project is also collecting real-time data across the pilot area to measure water quantity, water quality, precipitation and other climate data. The bio-monitoring data will improve our understanding of the relationship between water quality, microorganisms and industrial activities; data visualization will improve regional water management.  

Over time, this platform will serve as an advanced global monitoring tool to protect water, people, ecosystems, and the economy as the demand for fresh water continues to rise.