What is the most important action required to have a fully developed smart water grid in the US.

A US nationwide smart water grid would create a central command and control center. This would allow for individual communities and watersheds to utilize an advanced water IT system for the management of their water systems. This would create a common standard. Furthermore, this system would allow for data exchange that exceeds traditional community boundaries and looks at where and under what conditions water is accessed, used and discharged. A smart water grid system would have an enormous long and short term impact fiscally, improving human health and the environment. The Water Innovations Foundation has undertaken research over the past several months, to explore the impact of a water system to better understand its effect on utilities and communities and the potential return on investment. What do you feel the most important action is in order to move forward to implement such a system?