{"id":18952,"date":"2024-01-08T16:01:31","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T21:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=18952"},"modified":"2025-04-16T16:26:42","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T20:26:42","slug":"bridging-the-digital-divide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/bridging-the-digital-divide\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridging the Digital Divide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe collaborative and adaptive approach used in this project resulted in a tool that can immediately benefit small water utilities.\u201d
\u2014 Kaitlin Tucker, coordinator for research and engagement, NC Water Resources Research Institute<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n FROM THE WINTER 2024 ISSUE<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

A collaborative research team led by Duke University\u2019s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability is working to lessen the digital divide for small rural water utilities and helping them fulfill reporting requirements. With funding from the NC Water Resources Research Institute, the team has developed a free mapping tool called \u201cBoundarySync,\u201d part of the Internet of Water (IoW) project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital boundaries can readily define service areas, showing where water systems feed properties. Having an easily accessible and current boundary map allows utilities to quickly answer simple customer questions like \u201cAre you my service provider?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having a digital map of service area boundaries also makes it easier for utilities to perform analyses of information that are often required for state and federal funding applications. Additionally, a digital map can help utilities better understand their constituencies and the water quality of their watersheds by making it much easier to overlay census tracts, water quality data, and other information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paper Maps and Lists (or No Lists at All)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the benefits of digitized boundaries, many utilities in North Carolina \u2014 particularly small rural utilities \u2014 rely on paper maps, images, a list of addresses, or, in some cases, no list at all. The lack of digitized boundaries presents a major barrier for local officials to use water data effectively. It also makes it nearly impossible for the state to conduct regional analyses about water supply and infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBetter water data equals better water management,\u201d says Lilli Watson, grant management and communications lead for the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the first step to better water quality is knowing where the water is coming from. So, in 2019, Duke researchers partnered with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to create digital service area boundaries for water systems serving more than 3,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, for the newly digitized boundaries to be helpful, they require regular updates and maintenance using mapping software that most small-scale utilities can\u2019t access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open-Source Mapping<\/h2>\n\n\n