{"id":16908,"date":"2016-11-18T13:50:32","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T18:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/wellntel-smart-water-for-the-masses\/"},"modified":"2016-11-18T13:50:32","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T18:50:32","slug":"wellntel-smart-water-for-the-masses","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/wellntel-smart-water-for-the-masses\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellntel: Smart water for the masses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Water is essential to life, so it\u2019s no surprise that the world\u2019s race towards digitization includes some important developments around good old H2O<\/span>. \u00a0Wellntel is one such company applying technology to water; by combining smart sensors and weather information, Wellntel aims to make groundwater safe, reliable, cost-effective, and abundant. \u00a0To do so effectively, Wellntel needs to build meaningful partnerships with small farmers and well drillers. <\/span><\/p>\n

Over 44 million people obtain the majority of their potable water from a private well, including 97 percent of rural populations. \u00a0Many of these wells are drilled by a regional water well driller for a landowner, such as a homeowner or small farmer. \u00a0Drilling wells is capital intensive, requiring a drilling rig; trailers with materials such as PVC pipe, bentonite clay, and silica sand; and tanks of water. \u00a0\u00a0The well driller generally charges a mileage-based fee to move and setup equipment, plus a fee for each foot of the finished well. \u00a0For this reason, customers desire to have the most shallow well possible, and basic water wells can cost\u00a0tens of thousands of dollars. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Groundwater wells tap into aquifers, underground porous formations of water that vary widely in depth, size, and water quality. \u00a0Aquifers can be dozens of feet below the land surface, or hundreds. \u00a0These aquifers change over time, depending on precipitation and the geologic makeup surrounding the aquifer. \u00a0If a groundwater well removes water from the aquifer faster than it is replenished by rainfall, the water level falls below the well\u2019s pump. \u00a0Operating under dry conditions causes the pump to break, contributing to the estimated $1.2 billion spent annually by well owners on unexpected well repair costs. [1]<\/a> \u00a0If the breakage is due to a severely depleted aquifer, it may be necessary to drill an entirely new well.\u00a0[2]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

To prevent over-pumping a well, landowners monitor water levels; three traditional methods are used:<\/span><\/p>\n