Lucknow: Amritanshu Kumar, Head of Water and Wastewater (WWW) at Schneider Electric, delivered an address at the APAC News Network’s 2nd Sustainable Urban Innovation Conclave in Uttar Pradesh. In his presentation, Kumar discussed the importance of smart water management to address growing water scarcity problems worldwide.
Kumar highlighted that around 3 to 4 percent of energy consumption is used in the water sector, and sewage and chemicals contribute to emissions of 3 to 10 per cent. Additionally, inefficient infrastructure causes a significant 50 per cent loss of water in the complete water cycle.
Efforts are being made to use less energy and bring in new technologies for sustainability, Kumar informed, adding that they match with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6, 9, and 11, which aim for clean water, innovation, and sustainable cities.
Circular water management, like recycling, reusing, and managing resources carefully, is vital due to water scarcity. Kumar said that Schneider has been taking a holistic approach to tackle challenges such as providing safe drinking water, managing water quantity effectively, and improving workforce skills.
Kumar highlighted Schneider Electric’s strategy that revolves around digital transformation to improve water management operations and asset performance. He said that cybersecurity plays a vital role in protecting data integrity and meeting government standards on water quality and discharge.
Schneider Electric works closely with state governments, Kumar informed, on initiatives like AMRUT and Jal Jeevan Mission to improve water management in smart cities. He also informed about Schneider Electric’s regular investments in research and development, with India being a key focus.
