PA Consulting helped water technology firm Water Source Australia develop an advanced digital water treatment device that uses cloud technology and the Internet of Things to produce potable water.
The project is in line with Water Source Australia’s broader goal of decentralizing the water treatment process and “democratizing access to water” across the country, according to company management.
Mark Campbell, Chief Executive of Water Source Australia, said: “The human right to water is essential to living in dignity and creating economic opportunity for all. Our goal is to help communities around the world provide residents with clean, pure drinking water that everyone can safely access.”
The new facility is a big step in that direction, giving Water Source Australia the ability to treat domestic waste water at a rate of 8 liters per minute. The cleaning process relies on new technologies, including the Internet of Things, which facilitates the analysis, treatment and maintenance of equipment. All data is stored in the cloud.
In addition to supporting the construction of the plant’s technical infrastructure, PA Consulting also supported its client with the subsequent commercialization steps. This included: determining the trading capacity required for delivery and placing it in the platform design; developing a model to commercialize the device in less than two years; and guaranteeing the sustainability of the project by anchoring it in the principles of the circular economy.
The process involved a team from PA Consulting’s Global Innovation and Technology Center as well as water management experts from the company. They teamed up to deliver the technical and engineering side of the project as well as design the regulatory framework and ecosystem for further development.
“PA’s vision, process and co-creation model made them the perfect partner. They immediately understood our vision to combine a for-profit enterprise with philanthropy using advanced technology to give local communities access to drinking water whenever and wherever they need it,” said Campbell.
The newly developed device will initially be commercialized in Australia, with plans to introduce it to fast-growing and emerging markets in the future. The project also marks a step forward for the use of technology in water treatment and distribution, which is becoming increasingly important as water scarcity becomes a more pressing issue due to climate change.