Modernizing water infrastructure across a large, decentralized network is a growing challenge for public agencies. It requires secure connectivity, real-time compliance, and scalable solutions that can operate in diverse environments. The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA)—Canada’s largest operator of water and wastewater facilities—faced this challenge with urgency and purpose.
Responsible for over 750 client sites across Ontario, OCWA delivers clean drinking water to more than 4.5 million residents. Its operations span municipalities, industries, institutions, and First Nations communities. Yet even with its expansive footprint, OCWA has maintained a lean and efficient model—one increasingly driven by data, automation, and reliability.
To meet evolving regulations and operational demands, OCWA partnered with Cisco to implement a robust Cisco industrial IoT solution, redefining what modern water infrastructure can achieve.
The challenge: Standardization and connectivity at scale
OCWA needed to overcome a series of complex challenges common to utility and public sector operators:
- Standardize operations across a diverse set of facilities
- Ensure compliance amid increasingly stringent reporting regulations
- Eliminate manual intervention and field technician dispatches
- Establish reliable, secure connectivity in remote or infrastructure-poor regions
Legacy systems, while dependable in the past, could no longer support the agility and real-time capabilities required for effective water infrastructure modernization.
The solution: Cisco industrial IoT for utility transformation
With the support of Cisco, OCWA deployed Cisco industrial routers featuring Wi-Fi 6, 5G, and advanced security via Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW). Combined with the Cisco IOx application environment, which merges IOS XE with Linux, these devices enabled edge computing directly at the facility level.
Key benefits and capabilities
- Reliable remote connectivity: High-gain antennas and dual connectivity options delivered uninterrupted service, even in locations where mobile phones had no signal.
- Edge-based automation: Facility apps ran locally on each router, standardizing data collection and real-time compliance reporting.
- Remote configuration: Technicians could reset or update routers from central offices, eliminating costly travel and downtime.
- Built-in data protection: With 100 GB of onboard storage, the system maintained full data continuity during network outages, safeguarding compliance records.
This architecture delivered a powerful combination of local intelligence and centralized control, core to any successful industrial IoT in water utilities deployment.
Results: Enabling true water infrastructure modernization
The impact of OCWA’s investment in Cisco’s industrial IoT was both immediate and sustainable:
- Zero compliance issues related to network failure since rollout
- Automated, standardized operations across 750+ facilities
- New service capabilities, including predictive maintenance and energy optimization
- Reduced field operations, lowering response time and travel costs
- Future scalability, with a roadmap that includes upgrading to Cisco Catalyst IR1835 Rugged Routers
OCWA now operates one of the most digitally advanced water networks in Canada, delivering not only clean water but also intelligent infrastructure that adapts to change.
Strategic partnerships that drive industrial transformation
OCWA’s success illustrates how public agencies can scale and future-proof their operations through smart partnerships. Across sectors—whether utilities, manufacturing, government, healthcare, or education—organizations are turning to technology partners to address today’s most pressing challenges: compliance, security, efficiency, and agility. Working with trusted providers like Cisco enables these organizations to bridge the gap between legacy operations and modern digital infrastructure.
At Cloud Managed Network (CMN), we are proud to be a Cisco partner, helping clients navigate this transformation with confidence. Our team brings deep cross-sector expertise and a consultative approach, ensuring that every solution is aligned to business goals and regulatory environments.
Our Cisco-powered portfolio spans a broad and growing set of enterprise technologies, including:
- Network Infrastructure: Firewalls, routers, switches, Wi-Fi, LTE/Cellular
- Security Solutions: VPN, SASE, XDR, EDR
- Collaboration & Productivity: Telephony, video conferencing, peripherals
- Device & Facility Management: Cameras, sensors, MDM, edge-based IoT
Whether modernizing IT infrastructure, enabling edge intelligence, or deploying robust cybersecurity frameworks, CMN provides the strategy, technology, and support to execute at scale.
Together with Cisco, we’re building smarter, safer, and more connected communities.
