WaterNSW taps Nutanix for real-time insights

WaterNSW is using a network of 4600 IoT sensors in floodways across the state to help generate real-time insights into water availability.

The state-owned corporation is using technology provided by vendor Nutanix to capture data from the sensors and interface it between a range of applications, including its new Water Insights Portal.

The platform runs on a hybrid cloud environment, with business-critical operational applications hosted at a government-run data centre and SaaS and IaaS used for additional workloads.

WaterNSW is tasked with protecting Greater Sydney’s drinking water catchment; supplying water to Sydney Water and other distributors for treatment and delivery to residents, infrastructure planning and operation; and the management and monitoring of water transaction services for farmers and irrigators.

WaterNSW CIO Robinson said the corporation operates the largest surface and groundwater monitoring network in the Southern Hemisphere.

“We’re a data management company when it comes down to it. Everything we deliver for our customers depends on the visibility of what’s happening across our water network. Whether that’s river flows, storage levels or water quality, every decision we make is data-driven,” he said.

“Our water data is critically important, and it needs to be shared. Making it accessible is a core part of our role. From the Bureau of Meteorology investigating weather patterns, to government departments making policy and population decisions, to farmers and irrigators who need to know when there’s enough water available for them to start pumping — all these decisions are influenced by our data.”

Robinson said Nutanix plays a key role in the way the company operates its network, with all SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) and telemetry system settings in the platform used to gather data from the field in real time.

“Our infrastructure allows us to move our data between the point it is captured and the output location with integrity and automation so it’s consistent and meets our customer promise,” he said.

The company first engaged Nutanix as part of a data centre refresh along with HCL Technologies.

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