Schneider Electric Boosts Tech Adoption for Sustainable Water Management

A firm that delves into digital transformation of energy management and automation, Schneider Electric, is moving to the second phase of supporting the Ministry of Jal Shakti to accelerate the technology adoption for sustainable water management in India. Schneider Electric says that its mission is to address the challenges of water management and meet the present need for building sustainability, efficiency, and resiliency in the water sector.

Schneider Electric, in collaboration with APAC News Network, the Ministry of Jal Shakti and National Institute of Urban Affairs, has moved to the second step in its journey to drive greater sustainability. As part of this initiative, the company is working on preparing a skill development program that empowers eco-warriors to become proficient in using next-gen technology. The curriculum would focus on technologies in water governance, efficient operations, management of water and wastewater treatment plants, sustainable water management, technology for water conservation, and efficient desalination process using digital technologies.

Underlining the relevance of leveraging digital technologies for integrating sustainability in water management, G. Ashok Kumar, IAS, Director General – NMCG, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India said, “India is home to 1.4 billion people, and it has been our endeavor to provide them access to clean drinking water at all times. To combat the water crisis, it is critical we make sustainable water distribution networks that are backed by next-generation technology. I am happy to learn that Schneider Electric in association with APAC News Network is moving towards the next phase of this initiative which will now see the transition from awareness to technological adoption. We are also working to imbibe technology in water governance and bring efficient management of wastewater treatment. We are committed to achieving the goals of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and believe that technology can help us bridge the gap between the demand and supply of clean water.”

This association’s initial phase, which aims to raise awareness of environment-friendly water management technologies, started last year in 2022. The purpose of the second phase is to transition from awareness to technological adoption.

Emphasizing the need for future-proofing national infrastructure through skilling, Archana Varma, IAS, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, Ministry Of Jal Shakti, Government Of Indiasaid, “Technology is at the heart of every facet of our lives. It has the potential to make a great difference to India’s water economy. From water governance to water conservation, technology plays a pivotal role through its predictive nature. It not only helps us plan but also pre-empt possible issues and keeps industries or municipal corporations prepared. We are working with 5 goals in mind such as water data, increasing water efficiency through technology, etc. With this, we expect to regulate the water crisis and provide access to clean water across the value chain”.

Talking about the integration of smart technologies for future-proofing WWW plants, Senthil Kumar, Head of Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric India,said, “The association with the Ministry of Jal Shakti is a testament to our commitment to driving sustainability by harnessing the power of digital technologies. As an impact company, we recognize the importance of collaborating with the public sector for addressing critical issues like water scarcity. Through this curriculum, we aspire to provide hands-on experience in working on software and the latest digital technologies that support sustainable water management. The technology adoption would not only contribute to the modernization of WWW plants but also equip our working population to benefit from the best-in-class technology.”

Schneider Electric maintains that it believes in leveraging technology for bridging the gap between progress and sustainability. Its IoT-enabled ecostruxure for water and wastewater is well equipped to offer smart water solutions by combining complete lifecycle management, seamless IT and OT integration, and improved automation system diagnostics.

Together with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Schneider Electric aims to provide access to clean water to all and transition industries toward water sustainability.