H2OSAV and Water-Use Data Visualization

By Michael Gutierrez

We are in the age of big data. With respect to water-use, being able to access, analyze and visualize data is invaluable for both research and conservation program development. UF/IFAS State Specialized Extension Agent Dr. Nick Taylor uses data to help utilities increase water savings with H2OSAV. Dr. Taylor recently presented his work at the South Florida Water Management District Water Conservation Expo, where he agreed to an interview with IrriGator.

Dr. Nick Taylor, UF/IFAS State Specialized Extension Agent

Can you describe H20SAV?
NT: H2OSAV is a water-savings analytics and visualization tool. What we’ve done is put together a suite of software platforms that a utility can use to assess how their conservation programs have been performing in the past so they can begin to better target those programs to their customers - based on consumption patterns and property features - in a way that can help to increase overall savings. Another component of H2OSAV is data sharing between utilities about programs - how they perform, how to make them better and how to move forward to reach their savings goals.

Can you talk about how a data hub like H2OSAV can be useful for research?

NT: Well there’s the obvious data component - data availability, being able to merge and match that data with property appraisal and other open sources of data. In the past I’ve worked with a number of students of researchers from all over the country to gain access to utility data. And what we get is a group of collaborators who can start to evaluate research questions, maybe add ideas about how that data handling works well or not so well. That’s on the academic side.

On the county level we do have extension agents using this platform. Even though the primary data source has to come from the utility, in several instances the extension agent for the county is also using this. Alachua County is a prime example. Gainesville Regional Utilities has this service and both Alachua County EPD and the Alachua County extension agent use it. It’s very similar in Sarasota and hopefully we’ll be talking with other utilities we work with about access to those platforms for the extension agents there.

Right now is H2OSAV mostly focused around the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) area?

NT: Yes. Part of the reason it’s focused there is that the state DEP is very concerned about that region. They have directed our attention to that region. We have good collaborators in that region and they have a very set goal that they need to reach. It’s very critical at this time. We’re certainly willing to branch out, but it gives us a contained area to really focus on.

Nicholas Taylor, State Specialized Extension Agent from @UF, asks #UFWater18 attendees how we address additional growth and water demand in central florida #ShapingOurWaterFuture pic.twitter.com/gqskrGRd59

— UF Water Institute (@ufwater) February 7, 2018

Where is H2OSAV in its development? Is this something that is ready to be applied anywhere or are you still working on refining/perfecting?
NT: It has been deployed. There are utilities that are using it. It’s also under constant development where we have production versions, development versions and then we roll out updates, much the same as you would get an update to an app on your phone, or any sort of software.

Currently we have three software tools and they will be merged eventually into one tool that can do many many things. The bar is going to be set high in the future. We have a lot more work to do. What I really want to see is better collaboration between the utilities and that’s the main goal. If there is a next phase, or next step, we want to see some proof that this tool is actually helping and reducing water use.