ISO 24591-1:2024

International
Standard
ISO 24591-1
First edition
Smart water management —
2024-01
Part 1:
General guidelines and governance
Gestion intelligente de l'eau —
Partie 1: Lignes directrices générales et gouvernance
Reference number
© ISO 2024
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 1
3.1 Terms and definitions .1
3.2 Abbreviated terms .3
4 General . 4
4.1 Scope for smart water management .4
4.2 Challenges and constraints .5
4.2.1 Stakeholders .5
4.2.2 Considerations and challenges .5
4.2.3 Constraints .6
4.3 Stakeholder expectations relating to smart water management .6
5 Principles and guidelines for the design of smart water management system . 8
5.1 General .8
5.2 Design scheme for smart water management systems .8
5.3 Logical architecture for smart water management systems .8
5.4 Design of logical architecture .9
5.4.1 Sensing layer .9
5.4.2 Monitoring and control layer .10
5.4.3 Application layer .10
5.4.4 Operation layer . 12
5.5 Integration of smart water management systems . 12
6 Principles and guidelines for operation and maintenance of smart water management
systems .13
6.1 General . 13
6.2 V erification of system reliability . 13
6.2.1 General . 13
6.2.2 Infrastructure security . 13
6.2.3 Performance indicators (PIs) .14
6.3 Emergency response plans .14
6.4 Smart water management implementation strategy . 15
7 Principle and guidelines for the governance of smart water management system .15
7.1 General . 15
7.2 L eadership, roles and responsibilities .16
7.2.1 The owner of the smart water management system .16
7.2.2 The leadership team of the owner or water utility . .16
7.2.3 The responsible body of the smart water management system .16
7.2.4 The operator of the smart water management system .16
7.2.5 Data management .16
7.3 Workforce organization and change management .16
7.3.1 General .16
7.3.2 Workforce organization .16
7.3.3 Change management .16
Annex A (informative) Overview of online measurements of the sensing layer .18
Annex B (informative) Cybersecurity reference model of a smart water management system .21
Bibliography .22

iii
Foreword
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iv
Introduction
In recent years, governments, enterprises and researchers have shown increasing interest in incorporating
digital and smart approaches, including sensor monitoring, real-time data transmitting, data processing,
artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time controlling, into water systems. The worldwide demand for water
from the growing population, increasing urbanization and maintaining the cost of ageing infrastructure
drive the growth of the smart water management market.
With the development of smart water management, water utilities are facing increasing challenges in
developing an appropriate digital strategy for water, wastewater, stormwater systems and service. First,
data silos and electro-mechanical rotating equipment with various communication protocols block systems
integration and interoperability. Second, cybersecurity and user data protection are critical considerations
when deploying smart water management. Third, managing data for valuable information is the key element
in designing and managing a smart water system. Fourth, adopting digital technologies can bring up human
resources concerns related to skills gaps, workforce transition and change management.
The digital maturity of water utilities is different but they all need to have digital architecture and general
guidelines to develop value systems and governance to adapt to the changing environment and face these
new challenges.
While there are some standards on data exchanging and data sharing relating to smart city and smart
community infrastructures, standards on smart management in the water and wastewater domain have
still to be developed.
This document provides principles and guidelines for smart water management relating to drinking water,
wastewater, stormwater systems and services. It is intended to help water utilities decrease operational
expenditure, increase workforce efficiency and increase user engagement and satisfaction. It also helps
guide a new generation of water utilities during their uptake of digital strategy and integration into water
services adapted to their context, and accelerates collaboration with public agencies and other businesses in
the smart cities field.
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