Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
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P R E S E N T S need for a larger debate within the water sector about the amount of open data, and the use of data in general. "More open data would enable greater public engagement with water and the development of more ICT solu ons, which could aid water effi ciency," she says. "However, there is also a need to protect privacy and consider the ethics of data collec on and use." Hurry acknowledges that while the level of metering in the sector has grown drama cally over the past 10 years, the propor on of smart meter solu ons must be increased. "Smart meters should provide informa on that will aid network op misa on and customer-facing informa on to drive water effi ciency. But there needs to be more work on the use of smart rather than big data," she adds. "Water companies need to focus on what data is needed and how this should be gathered." But the metering of individual homes should not be viewed as the only solu on. "Neighbourhood meters for network op misa on combined with in-home sensors that can provide data directly to customers' smart phones are one alterna ve approach," explains Hurry. EMPOWERING CUSTOMERS U lising technology to engage with consumers is key to the transi on to a more fl exible, resilient and sustainable u lity network. But the infl ux of new technologies makes it increasingly diffi cult for u li es to iden fy the solu ons that are the best fi t for their business and their customers. Faced with such a saturated market, u li es must engage more with consumers to ensure they are part of the decision-making process and feel commi ed to their role in helping to deliver the energy and water systems of the future. For Anglian Water, innova on and customer engagement is intrinsically linked. The company's Innova on Shop Window in Newmarket (see case study) is a real-world test site that promotes innova on and the development of new technologies to help the business tackle the unique challenges facing the region. "As one of the fastest-growing, and driest, regions in the country, planning for the future and improving resilience is a top priority," says Adam Brookes, technology and innova on Water companies won't invest in technologies that are yet to mature, but technologies can't mature and demonstrate their eff ec veness without larger scale fi eld trials in the water company se ng. II 18 | MARCH 2019 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk