BWSSB saves ₹40 crore a year with AI: Bengaluru’s water board sets global first

By deploying AI and real-time sensor technology across pumping stations, BWSSB has cut power waste, improved efficiency, and become the world’s first water utility to fully adopt AI-driven operations.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has achieved a major technological milestone by adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in its water supply and wastewater management systems, resulting in annual electricity savings of over ₹40 crore.

BWSSB has earned the distinction of being India’s first and also the world’s first water supply institution to implement AI-based technology on such a large scale. The advanced system is being used for both drinking water supply and sewage treatment operations, marking a significant shift towards smart and efficient water management.

As part of this initiative, AI-based smart pump monitoring has been implemented at 78 pumping stations across Bengaluru. Along with AI, BWSSB has introduced an optimisation technology called iPumpNet, a real-time sensor-based system that continuously collects operational data from pumps.

Also Read:MP Tejasvi Surya flags concerns over proposed Namma Metro fare hike, urges BMRCL to reconsider

The strength of the system lies in the integration of AI with iPumpNet and predictive diagnostics technology. This combination allows BWSSB to monitor pump performance round-the-clock and identify issues even before they become visible to human operators. The technology is capable of detecting hidden and unnoticed losses, which would otherwise go undetected.

Using AI-generated insights, the water board is now able to identify pumps that consume more electricity than prescribed limits. Based on this data, BWSSB has started replacing low-efficiency pumps with high-efficiency models, leading to substantial reduction in power consumption.

Officials say this AI-driven approach has helped prevent unnecessary power wastage, bringing major financial benefits to the board. By controlling excess expenditure and improving operational efficiency, AI technology has emerged as a key tool in saving public money while strengthening Bengaluru’s water infrastructure.