From complex infrastructure to climate variability, utilities are facing more interconnected risks than ever. The Great Lakes Water Authority’s AURA platform, powered by Aquasight, demonstrates how shared digital intelligence can transform regional water management—driving efficiency, transparency, and collaboration across dozens of communities.
Why a Regional Smart Water Platform Still Matters
GLWA’s service area is massive:
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3.8 million residents
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1,698 square miles
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5 treatment plants and 19 pump stations
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Dozens of local distribution systems with varying levels of resources and technical maturity
In a network this size, a problem in one community can ripple across many others. Stagnation, pressure fluctuations, or main breaks in one area can quickly affect neighbors. The AURA platform was built to pinpoint, share, and solve these issues collaboratively and in real time.
From Data Collection to Actionable Insights
The platform integrates:
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GIS boundaries
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Thousands of water quality sample sites
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334 flow and pressure meters streaming live data
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Weather radar feeds
Beyond being a data repository, AURA delivers actionable intelligence:
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Chlorine heat maps and early water quality warnings
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Flushing advisors
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Flow and pressure analytics
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Smart reporting
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Asset management and risk scoring
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Smart meter integration for water loss detection and anomaly alerts
Communities with advanced capabilities can even integrate hydraulic models and distribution pressure maps, while those with less digital maturity still gain immediate value from baseline features.
Real-World Wins for Communities
The operational benefits from AURA are both measurable and practical:
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Hydraulic Model Calibration: One city used AURA’s digital twin capabilities to fine-tune its model and redesign sampling sites for better water quality management.
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Faster Leak Response: Smart meter anomaly detection flagged customer leaks weeks earlier than before, saving residents thousands.
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Post-Repair Insights: AURA identified a closed valve left after a main repair, preventing chlorine residual instability from going undetected.
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Automated Flow Tracking: A township uses daily flow comparisons to quickly spot unusual consumption patterns without manual data crunching
Key Advantages for Utilities
The AURA platform was designed to address some of the most pressing priorities for utility leaders:
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Procurement Efficiency: One central contract replaced the need for separate procurements across 112 communities.
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Standardization + Flexibility: A common set of metrics and training materials, adaptable to each community’s technical capacity.
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Risk Management: Real-time intelligence for troubleshooting and transparency.
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Workforce Transition: Capturing institutional knowledge for the next generation of operators.
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Automation: Routine summaries and alerts free up staff for higher-value tasks.
Looking Ahead
The GLWA-AURA example shows that regional collaboration is both a performance and resilience strategy. In an environment where water systems face complex infrastructure, evolving regulations, and increasing service expectations, the ability to share intelligence and act in unison is invaluable.
For utilities considering their own smart water journey, the path is clear:
Start with shared goals, build a common platform, and design it to scale with technology and talent over time.
