Every year, more than 126 billion cubic meters of treated water is lost globally—mostly due to aging infrastructure and undetected leaks. For utilities, this means lost revenue, mounting repair costs, and a growing urgency to modernize pipeline assessments. But how do you manage the massive amount of inspection data effectively?
That’s exactly what Xylem and the PODS Association are working to solve.
Bringing Proven Data Standards to Water Pipelines
Xylem, a global leader in water technology, has partnered with PODS (Pipeline Open Data Standard) to create the first-ever industry data models specifically tailored for water transmission pipelines. These models, previously used for oil, gas, and hazardous liquids, are being adapted to help water utilities better organize, manage, and communicate inspection data—making smarter, faster decisions possible.
Joann Ren, Xylem Data Solution Architect, led the initiative in collaboration with the PODS team. “PODS data models will take our pipeline inspections to the next level by strengthening data integrity, making data more accessible, and implementing robust data management,” she says.
Why This Matters for the Water Industry
Water utilities often operate with a patchwork of IT systems and data formats, which makes it difficult to get a clear picture of pipeline conditions. As Ren explains, “Xylem constantly looks for ways to optimize how we manage customer pipeline data. Partnering with PODS was a natural next step.”
The result? A model that supports everything from asset location and characteristics to inspection records, repair histories, and analytics. It’s also designed to scale—ideal for utilities managing vast, complex pipeline networks.
PODS Perspective: Why It’s a Big Deal
Monique Roberts, Executive Director of PODS, emphasizes the broader implications:
“Visibility and optimization of in-ground assets like pipelines are vital to making operations safer, more cost-effective, and more sustainable. PODS for water is a huge step forward.”
Historically, water pipelines have lacked a standardized data model—unlike oil and gas pipelines regulated by PHMSA. This absence has hindered data consistency and transparency. But as utilities embrace digital asset knowledge management, tools like PODS can bridge the gap, helping both vendors and utilities transform raw data into actionable insight.
Roberts adds, “It’s crucial for utilities to know the condition and context of their pipelines—not just for compliance, but for sustainable pipeline development.”
The new Water Data Model Standard is expected to launch in October 2024 for testing and review, bringing global water professionals closer to true data standardization.
Looking Ahead
Xylem’s partnership with PODS is more than a technical upgrade—it’s a leap forward in how the water sector thinks about, structures, and uses data. With this model in place, utilities can expect more precise assessments, streamlined reporting, and better service to the communities they serve.
🔗 Learn more about the new water data model and how Xylem is leading the charge: