When it comes to managing and monitoring water systems, time is money. And savvy facility managers know it is not just about water usage — the ability to identify and mitigate hard water issues in a timely manner is a core responsibility for any FM.

Managing hard water issues is key to protecting experiences for occupants and customers, but it is also a simple matter of economics: allowing hard water issues to persist risks the incursion of substantial annual maintenance and equipment replacement costs. Industry veterans probably recognize this scenario all too well. By the time FM teams can properly address the presence of hard water in a facility, key infrastructure may have become corroded or contaminated to the point of being unusable.

Whether it is dealing with hard water issues or just keeping an eye on how an organization can leverage new technologies to drive smarter facility management, the next generation of water monitoring and management is here.

Step up from manual monitoring

While most FMs are already using some sort of building management solution (BMS) to monitor mechanical and electrical equipment, most are not yet applying this digitally enhanced approach to their water management. Instead, they are still relying on manual processes: checking conductivity meters in person, manually utilizing test strips and collecting water samples, etc. The pain of this labor-intensive status quo is amplified by the broader staffing challenges facing many FM teams.

On top of slow manual sampling and data gathering, almost all teams rely on off-site lab equipment, adding even more lag time to the process. Too often, by the time manual testing reveals hard water problems, the damage has already been done.

Transition to smart water management

To effectively manage and treat water across multiple locations, FMs must be able to see and act on water insights in real time. This means moving away from time- and cost-intensive manual monitoring and stepping up to digital, automated monitoring that can enable data-driven, smart water management.

Thanks to new integrations among BMS and commercial water treatment systems, some of the most forward-thinking FMs have already moved to this kind of digitally enabled water management. These leaders are using real-time insights to make data-driven decisions that drive meaningful and measurable efficiency and cost effectiveness. For example, automated testing and digital alerts instantly notify facility managers of potential issues (low salt levels, for example), enabling them to nip those fledgling problems in the bud and prevent serious damage.

FMs who have leaned into digital transformation are seeing water management benefits across four salient business priorities:

  1. Improved operations
  2. More sustainable operations
  3. Better project management
  4. Enhanced performance

Improved operations

Water management has come a long way in the past decades. Many FMs are using automated testing and treatment to keep water soft, odorless and free of sediment without the need for human intervention.

By integrating with modern BMS systems, these water management solutions can keep facility managers informed on system status and potential issues in real time. FMs can monitor things like salination levels, flow rates, pressure levels, energy consumption and pH levels using a centralized dashboard that alerts them to issues right away, so they can investigate and fix the problem before it causes damage.

Translating this data into easily digestible visuals like graphs and charts makes it easy for all staff to see, understand and act on water management insights. This also helps address hiring and training less experienced workers amid high turnover and a tight labor market.

The benefits of real-time data cannot be overstated. Instead of waiting for hard water issues to come to a head, FM teams have the information needed to rectify problems before they bloom into expensive maintenance or severely damaged equipment. This proactive approach also helps prevent brand and reputational damage by giving facility managers a chance to intervene before a critical mass of end users experience the unpleasant effects of hard water.

More sustainable operations

FMs are facing sustainability pressure from all directions. Regulators and customers alike want to see actionable plans for reducing a facility’s ecological footprint. In addition to waste and emissions reduction, this overall sustainability strategy must include a stronger position on water management.

Modern water management systems are equipped with features that support improved sustainability performance. For example, water softeners, conditioners and refiners that regenerate only as needed can reduce water and salt usage up to 50 percent compared to timer-based models. The reduction of scale also has a ripple effect throughout other water-using appliances: washing machines, water heaters and dishwashers can operate more efficiently, reducing energy and water usage.

Using new integrations between water management systems and BMS, FMs can further their sustainability efforts by improving the way they monitor water usage. Intuitive dashboards and real-time alerts keep FM teams up-to-the-moment on resource usage, enabling them to address potential areas of waste far more quickly than would be possible with manual monitoring methods. The wealth of data generated by these integrations also helps FMs get out ahead of potential issues by crafting more proactive, data-driven water management strategies backed by concrete usage information.

Improved sustainability performance delivers all kinds of value. In addition to supporting a healthier planet, FMs can rest easy knowing that their sustainable practices make their facilities more attractive to tenants looking to meet their own sustainability goals.

Better project management

FM teams have always been asked to do more with less, and macroeconomic factors have amped up that pressure. With widespread staffing shortages, FMs must find smart efficiencies for meeting their water management responsibilities and requirements, without adding headcount or increasing budget.

Fortunately, digital monitoring tools can mitigate these workforce issues and strengthen project management on multiple fronts. Performance tracking can alert FM teams to potential maintenance needs before they become major issues, which allows them to minimize downtime by scheduling upkeep more proactively. A shared digital dashboard keeps all team members up to date and on the same page concerning performance levels, which enables better coordination and oversight overall. Automated testing removes the risk of human error, ensuring water data is as accurate as possible.

Adding a layer of automation and centralized monitoring to water management efforts empowers FMs to drive more timely maintenance while also avoiding the costly, disruptive effects of labor shortages. By enabling smarter utilization of talent and smarter usage of data, digital water monitoring takes project management to the next level.

Enhancing performance

When it comes to data, more is more. Digital water management platforms provide a wealth of data concerning water usage: salination levels, flow rates, water and energy usage patterns, and more. Armed with this data, FMs can make smarter decisions earlier. Instead of cobbling together manual readings across multiple facilities, a digital platform automatically aggregates that information, instantly provides deeper insights into water quality and other metrics and frees up time to focus on problem solving.

At a base level, these systems make it easier for FM teams to communicate and collaborate. When teams stay close through intuitive tools, the team’s power becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Higher performance is a matter of leveraging data and human talent in the most efficient manner possible — a task that a digital water management tool makes simple.

A better path for water management

Modern integrations between water management systems and building management systems are opening new doors for FMs. Using real-time data to get ahead of hard water issues prevents costly maintenance and replacements. It also drives better processes, improved collaboration and concrete progress toward sustainability goals. These tools will only continue to evolve, and the value they deliver will likely increase in tandem.

This digital leap forward comes at an opportune moment, as staffing shortages persist, and macroeconomic volatility continues to apply pressure to margins in every industry. A generation of FMs is aging out of the workforce. As a new generation takes their place, it is likely that core integration between digital building management and water management will be foundational in defining FM's next step. To some, these digital tools may seem overhyped or unnecessary, but this outlook is shortsighted. What appears as a shiny digital toy today will be table stakes tomorrow.

FMs have always been expected to do more with less. This mandate is not going away; it is an evergreen condition of the job. Thankfully, digitally enhanced water management offers a solid means of addressing cost and process concerns today while also staying agile in the face of whatever the future holds. For FMs and their organizations looking to improve their water management, digitally integrated tools offer a better path forward.