Water Management for Smart Cities: Implications of Advances in Real-Time Sensing, Information Processing, and Algorithmic Controls
by Lee Breckenridge, GEORGE WASHINGTON JOURNAL OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
This piece explores the role new technologies can play in coordinating urban water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. It explains that disjointed governance regimes have proven to be a particular challenge in this realm, but emerging sensing technologies may make it easier for officials to collect information and inform decisions, particularly in population-dense areas. The publication then proceeds to outline in more detail these obstacles to water management, the emerging tools to overcome them, and potential consequences of becoming more dependent on such “smart” technologies.