Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
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16 | JANUARY 2016 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk Industry leader Bob Taylor, Managing Director, Bournemouth Water "Under the current rules of the game, we are doing well… but smart technology could help the industry achieve a step change." Interview by James Brockett L ike many buzzwords that are used when talking about technology and business these days, 'smart' can mean different things to different people. Talking about a smart network conjures up an image of thousands of web- enabled objects that link seamlessly to each other, with information from one part of the network enabling beneficial changes to another. Applying this thinking to a water supply network implies that technology will enable fundamental changes to ways of working in the industry, with service moving from a reactive model where leaks and other problems are dealt with as they occur, to something much more proactive, predictive and analytical. Bob Taylor, Managing Director of Bournemouth Water, is enthusiastic about the potential of smart networks for both the sector and his company, although he is keeping his feet on the ground. "From my perspective as the MD of a water business, it's all about trying to align the developments and the capability of smart networks technology with what customers are looking for in terms of their water service," Taylor tells WWT. "So, for example, customers are looking to see water companies reduce leakage. They see it as a waste, as unnecessary, so technology that helps water companies achieve that objective more cost-effectively is going to be worth investing in. But the starting point is that it has to come from customers' desires." Leakage is certainly one area where smart technology might enable a step change in performance, says Taylor. The goal of zero leakage by 2050, which is a clear aspiration in the industry, is not possible with current technology and approaches, but as smarter, predictive, data-centric techniques develop, that could change. Next-generation monitoring, telemetry and modelling could also help water companies zero in far quicker on water quality issues, and to make better quality decisions about replacement and maintenance of assets. It's an alluring vision of the future, but what are the obstacles to be overcome before we can get there? Beyond the technological barriers to progress, Taylor says that the main barrier to break through is a cultural one. "The natural, very careful approach taken to the delivery of what is essentially a food product has sometimes been reflected in the way we view new techniques and technology - but this is changing rapidly."