Bengaluru Adopts AI, IoT to Operate Borewell Amid Water Crisis

Bengaluru utilizes AI and IoT technologies in borewell operations to deal with the water crisis

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has opted to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enhance borewell operations efficiency.

The BWSSB demonstrated on March 25, how AI and IoT are integrated into a borewell in Central Bengaluru's Benson Town to deal with the water crisis. With approximately 14,000 public borewells in Bengaluru, nearly 6,900 have already dried up this summer.

BWSSB Chairman V Ram Prasath Manohar told Moneycontrol, "The deployed IoT sensors will monitor flow patterns, transmitting data to the cloud for analysis." This data will facilitate motor operation regulation, optimizing usage. In case of declining water levels, automated signals will trigger shutdowns, reducing the need for manual intervention."

"This project will successfully stop the exploitation of unscientific borewells, guaranteeing long-term sustainability. By setting fixed pumping levels, we can prevent overuse, and centralized monitoring will streamline our operational processes," elaborated Manohar, underscoring the transition toward data-driven management.

Highlighting the current challenges in assessing borewell water levels, often reliant on guesswork, Manohar stressed the importance of controlled pumping to safeguard borewell infrastructure from damage. He cautioned that excessive extraction could lead to soil ingress and blockages within the borewells.

Manohar affirmed the board's commitment to deploying this technology across all 14,000 public borewells, with an initial focus on the 7,000 currently active. "Having successfully piloted AI and IoT technologies in five borewells, we plan to extend its implementation to the remaining borewells," he added.