Water & Wastewater Treatment

14 SMART WATER NETWORKS 2018 M any complex issues challenge the water industry today and top of mind is leakage, with the need to upgrade pipelines to an optimised, efficient, adaptable network. Xylem's Andrew Welsh shows you how to get started. The UK's water and waste- water infrastructures has thousands of miles of ageing pipelines where the condition is unknown playing host to a growing number of con- cerns, from leaks and burst mains, to collapsed sewers and blockages. Operational efficiency remains the main driving force for the UK water and wastewater industries, but this year's scorching summer has also highlighted that we can no longer take a secure supply for granted. As a water manager, you'll have a number of issues that you need to address. How can you improve operational efficiency and performance without replacing miles of ex- isting pipework? How can you ensure a consistent supply of clean water to the consumer? How can you protect the sur- rounding environment, while demonstrating compliance with all Ofwat targets? Finally, how can you do all of this with a well-structured approach, using reliable data to inform your decisions whilst keeping the costs under control? The solutions required to be successful in this effort are, in some cases, already available today, while other solutions are rapidly emerg- ing. These solutions exist in the form of smart technolo- gies: so…ware and hardware that collect, monitor and analyse data in real-time to provide unprecedented in- sight into the performance of a water network. They switch operational strategies from those based on reacting to demand, to those that predict it. They also offer the poten- tial to enhance community welfare, while transforming the economics of water and wastewater operations. The UK's water and wastewater industry has long suffered from a his- tory of under-investment. For this reason, making the move to smart, data-powered infrastructure will not be an easy one. Up-front costs may deter some companies, as will a lack of in-house digital skill. Fortunately, gradual implementation is not only feasible: it's highly advisable. Consider the implementa- tion of intelligent equipment as a first step. In manufac- turing circles, this o…en takes the form of sensors or monitors that gather data on the performance of a piece of machinery, based on configured expectations. Water and wastewater are no different. Intelligent solutions exist to track a number of key performance indicators, such as leaks, corrosion, breaks or degradation. Once the data are col- lected, move on to analys- ing and actioning it. Digital solutions, such as so…ware or analytical programmes, help water managers to make sense of the data collected by collating, analysing, ordering and displaying them. This fa- cilitates any future decisions by water managers, who will now benefit from concrete data, rather than more spuri- ous performance indicators like the equipment's age or any recorded failures. Once you have imple- mented a system of intelligent equipment and digital solu- tions in your most critical ar- eas, you can begin to branch out across your infrastructure, thus creating a smart network of data exchange for forecast- ing, optimising, diagnosis and visualisation. Take a look at Xylem's new Smarter Water Manager white paper, to see how Thames Water has installed such a SMART WATER NETWORKS 2018 The three-step plan to building smarter water infrastructure network, using comprehen- sive, accurate, daily data readings to address water loss and identify supply issues. The results speak for themselves: more accurate, equitable billing for custom- ers, prompt identification of leaks and pipe ruptures, and a 13 per cent reduction in water consumption. Change will not happen overnight, but by taking a gradual approach to smart water implementation, you too could stand to reap the same rewards. Xylem Water Solutions UK Ltd, Private Road No.1, Colwick, Nottingham NG4 2AN Tel: 0115-940-0111 Web: www.xylem.com/uk Smart solutions at a glance Flygt Concertor: the world's first wastewater pumping system with integrated intelligence, giving high-quality, reliable performance that reduces total cost of ownership. Pure Technologies' SmartBall: a free-swimming tool that assesses pressurised water and wastewater pipelines for leaks and trapped gas. Can identify leaks as small as 0.11litres/min without disrupting pipe flow. Pure Technologies' PipeDiver: a free-swimming condition assessment tool for large-diameter pipelines, it locates and detects breaks, corrosion or defects to optimise repair planning. PipeDiver and SmartBall are two smart solutions for pipeline assessment

• Cover