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Water is the cornerstone of life and a critical driver of global economic and environmental stability. However, the disparity between water supply and demand, exacerbated by climate change, demographic shifts, and rapid economic growth, poses severe risks to ecosystems and societies worldwide.
The global water demand is projected to grow by some 400 billion m3 annually 1 driven by population growth, urbanization, and industrial expansion that have significantly increased water consumption. Freshwater accounts for only a fraction of the Earth's total water supply, with less than 1% readily accessible for human use2. Agriculture remains the largest consumer, responsible for nearly 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals, while industrial and domestic sectors collectively account for the remaining 30 percent3.
Water scarcity has led to an increased reliance on desalination. Today, around 21,000 desalination plants operate across 150 countries, with the Middle East and North Africa hosting half of the world’s installed capacity4. However, the high energy consumption associated with desalination raises concerns about its long-term sustainability.
Solutions for the water industry require a multi-faceted approach combining technology, policy, digitalization and sustainability along the water cycle. ABB technologies and experts support the entire water cycle, from water sourcing, management and treatment, through transmission, distribution, end use, reuse, and irrigation.
Discover solutions for each step of the water cycle by clicking the links below:
Select one of the boxes above to see more.
World’s first dual mode desalination plant
One potential solution can be found in Singapore, where the world’s first dual mode desalination plant can produce 30 million gallons of potable water from both sea and rainwater, powered by ABB’s state of the art automation, measurement and analytical technologies, in addition to variable speed drives and motors. Plantwide control systems are unified under an ABB Ability™ System 800xA distributed control system, a user-friendly digital platform that gives engineers wide visibility and precise control from a central command center. Data is seamlessly transferred from field instruments to the control system for analysis and diagnostics. With its fully digital-ready control system, the plant’s operations can be extended from device to edge to cloud.
“Innovative technology and process optimization in water treatment plants can realize reductions in energy consumption by up to 40 percent”, says Eng Kwang Goh, Keppel Infrastructure, Singapore.
World’s largest seawater desalination project
Approximately 45 kilometers north of Abu Dhabi city, the Taweelah project is the world’s largest seawater desalination project.The USD 500 million development has the capacity to process over 900,000 cubic meters of seawater per day, enough to meet the demands of over 350,000 households. ABB delivered 30 panels of medium-voltage switchgear and 250 panels of low-voltage switchgear with digital capabilities.
Successful drought response using ABB technology
Monterrey’s metropolitan area suffered a 6-year drought. To address this challenge, Servicios de Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey, supported by the local government, leveraged instrumentation technology, including 400 ABB AquaMaster4 flowmeters out of which five were supersized flowmeters. To transport the water from distant lakes, five aqueducts were built, and the flow was monitored and controlled using the five supersized flowmeters.
The world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation System is the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, designed to supply 5.5 billion cubic meters of water annually to Telangana, India. Despite the presence of the Godavari and Krishna rivers, the state's elevation (300–650m) poses a challenge. ABB has contributed 37 medium voltage motors (40MW and 43MW), 15 medium voltage LCI drive units, excitation systems, switchgears, PLC-based SCADA, and other electricals to power the pumps.
Netherlands’ largest drinking water supplier Vitens selects ABB to develop new process automation system
ABB has won a contract from Vitens, the Netherlands' largest water supplier, to develop a new process automation system. The project will implement the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® DCS, unifying operations across all plants. Vitens, which supplies 340 billion liters of water annually through 48,000 km of pipelines, will gain improved cybersecurity and efficiency. The global water industry is embracing automation to enhance sustainability, resilience, and regulatory compliance.
Optimizing water management systems in New Zealand
Watercare partnered with ABB and Water Engineers Limited to install 10 ABB Aztec AFM 631 fluoride analyzers in Auckland’s water treatment plants to meet new regulations by 2024. The self-calibrating system requires minimal manual intervention, with only daily checks and annual maintenance needed.
Wellington Water in New Zealand has partnered with ABB to implement sustainable and cost-effective water measurement solutions. Managing over 500 pump stations, reservoirs, and monitoring sites across six councils, they rely on ABB’s WaterMaster flow meters, pH monitors, and chlorine analyzers for accurate water quality control. This collaboration has improved treated water quality, increased efficiency, reduced chemical use, and achieved energy savings of 5–10 percent.
ABB drives and motors help Vietnam’s Quy Nhon City move closer to clean water goals
Vietnam faces water challenges that threaten its growth. To address them, the government launched a National Rural Clean Water Strategy in 2021. The Quy Nhon Clean Water Plant Project (Phase 1) aims to provide clean water to 83% of residents by 2025. Inaugurated in 2024, the SENCO Quy Nhon plant in Tuy Phuoc has a 30,000m³ daily capacity, set to double by 2030. It will supply water to Quy Nhon and Tuy Phuoc. ABB’s ACQ580 drives optimize motor speeds, enhancing efficiency and supporting Vietnam’s sustainability goals.
ABB softstarters turning Ganges into drinking water
Varanasi, a sacred city on the Ganges, faces high resource and energy demands from millions of visitors. To improve efficiency, modern technology is being adopted.
The Ganges struggles with pollution, with bacteria levels far exceeding safe limits. However, the local water treatment plant now purifies 36 million liters daily. ABB softstarters enhance efficiency by preventing leaks and reducing manual labor, making the system more reliable.
Lowering energy consumption in water plant operations
Water is a scarce commodity and treating it can be energy intensive. ABB domain expertise and drives technology helps lower energy consumption in water plant operations. See the interview with Arc Water Technologies and find out how they conserve water and save energy.
ABB Ability™ Condition Monitoring solution for powertrains
The CAFC water company aimed to standardize their equipment and select the most reliable digital products in order to reduce the number of maintenance people needed, and to optimize their activities. Thanks to ABB Ability™ Condition Monitoring solution for powertrains, the CAFC has achieved positive results in its management of drinking water capture, potability, adduction and distribution, sewerage, and water treatment in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in northeast Italy.
ABB’s technologies measure, monitor and control while ensuring a safe and clean water supply
Efficient water infrastructures are fundamental to a city’s good health. ABB won the public tender to support the Municipality of Naousa’s efforts to transform the city’s water infrastructures and provide quality water to more than 20,000 inhabitants. ABB’s advanced solutions allow for monitoring water balance in the supply network, while providing safe, clean water to people affordably.
Digitalization empowers utilities with comprehensive oversight and control over water distribution, improving efficiency, reducing losses, and cutting costs. ABB Ability™ Water Management System (WMS) is a vendor-agnostic platform that integrates diverse data for seamless water operations management. Another digital solution, the ABB Ability™ Energy Management for Water and Wastewater – OPTIMAX® helps companies reduce energy costs, minimize environmental impact, and take control of their operations – including seamlessly engaging in energy markets, reducing grid dependency, streamlining reporting, and maximizing value with minimal effort.
Select one of the boxes above to see more.
World’s largest wastewater treatment plant
The Bahr El Bakar wastewater treatment plant in Sinai, Egypt, processes 5.6 million cubic meters of water daily—enough to fill 2,000 Olympic pools. Inaugurated in 2021, it supports agriculture and restores 140,000 hectares of farmland east of the Suez Canal. ABB contributed advanced solutions from its Electrification, Motion, and Process Automation portfolios.
ABB drives, motors and solutions cutting energy bills
Saneago, a major water utility in Goiás, Brazil, serves 5.7 million people and industries by treating and supplying water from multiple sources. ABB drives, motors, and digital services help cut pumping energy costs by $700,000 annually. The ABB Ability™ Digital Powertrain also improves uptime by providing real-time equipment insights.
Optimizing energy efficient wastewater treatment processes in Germany
The sewage treatment plant in Bocholt processes up to 108,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily. Achieving the goal of reducing the country's emissions by 65 percent by 2030 will necessitate a collaborative effort, including enhancing energy efficiency in water and wastewater facilities.
The Schwarzenbruck wastewater treatment plant is an environmental innovation showcase that optimizes energy use with ABB Ability™ OPTIMAX®, reducing external power needs and saving approximately 300 tons of CO₂ annually. The system integrates various energy sources, including hydroelectric power, solar panels, combined heat and power plants, and battery storage, ensuring efficient energy management through sector coupling. Supported by €3.9 million in German government funding, this pilot project demonstrates how intelligent energy optimization can achieve 100% self-sufficiency and contribute to sustainability goals.
This episode of The Process Automation Podcast looks into how efficient water resource management through the implementation of smart automation solutions can help secure the future of water for our planet.
Two specialists from ABB discuss the global water scarcity crisis and what can be done to solve it.
The global water and wastewater industry is at an inflection point. Industry stakeholders, governments, and communities must collaborate to implement sustainable water management practices, invest in technological advancements, and strengthen regulatory frameworks. Our advanced technologies and collaborative expertise enable informed decision-making , efficient operations, extended asset lifespans and resilient water systems that support both people and the planet. And this enables the water and wastewater industry outrun…leaner and cleaner.
Source
1 World Economic Forum - Water demand is rising fast. Yet few realize how it impacts the climate crisis
2 World Economic Forum Explainer: What exactly is freshwater and is there enough of it?
5 Statista – Global Water Industry- Statistics and facts
6 Water Online -Turning The Tide On Water Scarcity With High-Efficiency Technology