From Blueprint to Reality: DC Water’s Strategic Engineering Plan and Digital Twin Implementation

SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE

One of the 4 Key Sustainability Challenges

A map with overlaid icons and red lines, showing a pop-up graph of hydraulic grade data for a DC Water tank on April 15-16, 2025, highlighting the benefits of Digital Twin Implementation for effective utility management.

Story Highlights

UTILIZED SOFTWARE

Bentley Software

LOCATION

ORGANIZATION/COMPANY

PROJECT SUMMARY

DC Water implemented a real-time, cloud-managed digital twin using Bentley WaterSight and OpenFlows WaterGEMS to tackle $57.5M in annual Non-Revenue Water (NRW) loss across its 1,300 miles of aging mains. Leveraging the Blueprint 2.0 strategic plan, the system integrates SCADA, AMI, and hydraulic models. Key to the solution is the deployment of 120 pressure/transient sensors feeding Bentley’s Anomaly Leak Finder (ALF), which identifies and triangulates leaks in near real-time. This digital initiative is projected to minimize billions of gallons in water loss, reduce the carbon footprint by 50,000 metric tons (equal to removing 10,000 cars), and significantly enhance resilience for D.C.’s 700,000 residents and 26 million annual visitors. The project directly supports sustainability by conserving water resources and reducing the energy wasted in pumping lost water.

Relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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