Pune has emerged as a pivotal node in global water management operations, with a team of 150 technicians at Ecolab’s Global Intelligence Centre overseeing water management for both global and Indian enterprises. The facility processes an astounding 9,000 crore water-related data points annually, transmitted through 1.5 lakh Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This vast array of data, funnelled through Pune, allows for the detection of anomalies and the generation of alarms which are then relayed to centres in the US, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.
Ecolab’s extensive network includes a global team of 1,600 chemical engineers, with 20 stationed in India, who provide the necessary insights to address and reverse detected issues. The company’s clientele spans various industrial sectors, including paper and pharmaceuticals, underscoring the critical nexus between water and energy. “Water is at the core, but there is a nexus between water and energy. In order to produce water, you need energy, and to produce energy, you need water. By this logic, we work on water towards energy conservation and by working on energy conservation we are working on climate,” an official explained.
The Pune centre offers real-time visibility by generating insights that enable companies to take corrective actions swiftly. “In 2023 alone, we have saved 2,000 crore litres of water across India, which can fulfil the water requirements of Pune for nearly three years,” an official claimed. The dashboard displays the number of connected devices and the data points collected, facilitating around 100 corrective actions in a span of four to five months. The average time taken to restore normal water flow is approximately 40 hours.
Water availability remains a significant issue for many industrial areas in India. During water crises, the government prioritises water for drinking and agriculture, leaving limited sources for industrial use. However, sustainability has become a top priority for corporates over the past five years. Ecolab’s platform, enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) since 2017-18 through a team of 10 data scientists, automates many processes. Despite the dynamic nature of parameters, the platform stores data typically for three years to accommodate changing conditions.
The operations at Ecolab’s Pune centre highlight the increasing importance of sustainable water management in the industrial sector. The integration of AI and IoT technologies in monitoring and managing water usage not only enhances operational efficiency but also supports broader environmental conservation goals. As industries continue to face water scarcity, the role of advanced data analytics and real-time monitoring becomes ever more critical in ensuring sustainable water usage and energy conservation.