Water Industry Monthly Update Optimized for SEO

WIPAC MONTHLY
The Monthly Update from Water Industry Process Automation & Control
www.wipac.org.uk Issue 4/2021- April 2021

In this Issue
WIPAC Monthly is a publication of the Water Industry Process Automation & Control Group. It is produced by the group
manager and WIPAC Monthly Editor, Oliver Grievson. This is a free publication for the benefit of the Water Industry and please
feel free to distribute to any who you may feel benefit. However due to the ongoing costs of WIPAC Monthly a donation website
has been set up to allow readers to contribute to the running of WIPAC & WIPAC Monthly, For those wishing to donate then
please visit https://www.patreon.com/Wipac all donations will be used solely for the benefit and development of WIPAC.
All enquires about WIPAC Monthly, including those who want to publish news or articles within these pages, should be directed
to the publications editor, Oliver Grievson at olivergrievson@hotmail.com
From the editor............................................................................................................. 3
Industry news..............................................................................................................
Highlights of the news of the month from the global water industry centred around the successes of a few
of the companies in the global market.
4 - 11
How do you solve a problem like CSOs.........................................................................
In this article from Dr Lucinda Gilfoyle of Anglian Water we look at CSOs and how the problem is being addressed
within the water industry including monitoring solutions which are helping to pinpoint where the problems
actually lie.
12-13
How to do level monitoring better...............................................................................
In this article by Revd. Dave Walker at Detectronic we look at some of the problems that are commonly faced
with level monitoring within the water industry and how we can use differing technologies to help improve the
accuracy of the data we collect
14-15
MCERTS radar offers a new way to hep the environment............................................
Radar level technology is something that hasn't often been used in monitoring level and flow in the water industry
because of the cost. In this article by Doug Anderson of Vega Control System we see that the technology has come
a very long way offering standalone measurement at a superb accuracy,
16-17
Workshops, conferences & seminars............................................................................
The highlights of the conferences and workshops in the coming months. 18-19

From the Editor

What level of monitoring should we have on the water environment? This is the big question at the moment in
England & Wales as the pollution scandal rolls on and on. This month I have watched what has been said about
the water industry in terms of its environmental performance towards the water environment. I have also watched
some of the Environment Audit Committee testimonies that have been available online and seen both regulator (the
Environment Agency and OFWAT) and Water Company tarred with labels such as doing "harm to the water environment"
and accusations of "deliberate poor performance raised." The labels don't do the industry or the regulator justice and
paint an industry that works hard in a unfairly poor light. The industry tries its best but in reality the concept of water is
certainly not valued and this limits what can actually be done to resolve the situation.
The nuclear option that commentators would have us deliver is to separate the foul sewer from the surface water sewer
and do a way with the concept of the storm overflow entirely. What would this do? Well it would cost a fortune, a ball
park figure that has been floated around the industry for quite a few years is that of around £100 billion and this is just to
sort out the sewer environment and doesn't include improvements that have to be made at wastewater treatment works
some which is actually happening as I type. It will also exacerbate problems of blockage due to sewer misuse and put
customers at higher risk of sewage backing up into their front room as all the wet wipes, fats, oils, greases and other detritus has nowhere to go if the sewer
blocks. What will happen is it will be "returned to sender," but not just them but all of their neighbours and potentially their whole street. It is a doomsday
scenario which can and does happen everyday. We forget that actually the majority of the sewer misuse problem has appeared as we have adapted our
lifestyles over the past decade or two. There is hope as some of the wet wipe manufacturers have now started to promise to make sure their products are
actually flushable.
What has all this got to do with Instrumentation, Automation & Control may you ask?
Well there is the old adage that we have to measure to manage and what has been not highlighted enough is the measurement that the water industry is
doing, the event duration monitoring programme that has switched by the water companies from the vast majority (as per the original ministerial direction)
to all of the combined storm overflows. On top of this the water industry are installing thousands of instruments across the industry to monitor exactly how
the flow of wastewater is managed within the wastewater networks. Where does this all lead? To the insight of how the wastewater industry is performing in
its due to manage the volume of wastewater that is coming through the wastewater system. It leading to insight as to where the pressures on the system lie
which will eventually allow a less than nuclear option to address the problem of pollution in the water environment. It will help the industry to take much more
of a finessed route to solving the problems of water-borne pollution and hopefully when we see the improvements that can be made it will help to create a
much better water environment without costing the customer and of course the environment more than has to.
Have a good month and of course stay safe,
Oliver

WWEM call for papers open as the countdown to Virtual WWEM
begins
The Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring Conference & Exhibition
have released their call for papers this month for Virtual WWEM which will be
taking place between 13th & 14th October this year. As it is a Virtual Event things
like the Instrumentation Apprentice Competition will have to wait another year as
the format is not condusive to the competition but there are other exciting things
happening including the ability for Virtual Attendees to play a "Serious Game"
centred around the Water Industry.
There are other opportunities though and the strong technical content, that has
been at past WWEM's set to expand. This WWEM will see the return of the WIPAC
Flow Forum as well as potentially a day on Digital Transformation as well as several
pre-recorded round-table events that will be help in the lead up to the event on
13th - 14th October. The precise subjects are yet to be confirmed but could include
things such as Digital Skills, Monitoring in Pollution and wastewater flow amongst
other things.
There is also the potential to expand the WIPAC Learning Zone by having pre-recorded events that will be available on the WWEM conference platform. For
those interested in participating then either get in touch with me at WIPAC or go through the WWEM website
Serious Games for the Water Industry - webinar now available and
the concept will be at WWEM
This month a webinar was recorded in collaboration with Water Industry Process Automation &
Control and Wastewater Education 501 (c) 3 with Dr Mehdi Khoury of the University of Exeter. The
webinar talks about the concept and how important it can be for the Water Industry. In the webinar
we are introduced to Toy Town which in the quick tour through the game that we run through it can
be clearly seen that the "water system" encompassing both water, wastewater and most importantly
the customer is part of one great big complex system that we have to understand before engaging on
huge projects like the separation of sewer systems. For those that want to watch it then follow the link
to the YouTube video (https://youtu.be/GdClGfqD1Tw).
It has also been confirmed this month that Serious Gaming will come to the Water, Wastewater &
Environmental Monitoring Virtual Conference which is in a virtual format this October. The full details
are yet to be confirmed but it is thought registrants will be able to play the game for 2-3 weeks before
the conference begins.
WIPAC showcase series to begin on 6th
May with Vega Control
Systems
The 6th May will see the first in a new offering for WIPAC Members where we are
going to be doing a technology showcase. These will be organised on an adhoc
basis depending upon the release of interesting developments in the world that
the Water Industry Process Automation & Control Group follows.
This time we will Join Matt Westgate, Water Industry Specialist for VEGA, who will
be unveiling their latest range of radars and controllers to gain Class 1 MCERTS
approval for use in the water and environmental monitoring sectors. Matt will
present unique new features now available for the benefit of MCERTS applications
and future requirements. He will also interview Peter Devine, the technical
manager at VEGA, who has been involved with both MCERTS radar processes, as
well as a Q&A with Oliver Grievson of WIPAC, and webinar attendees.
The details and links will be on the LinkedIn Group as soon as possible but the time
and date has been fixed to 6th May 2021 at 13:30 (UK time), the event is of course
free and we look forward to seeing you there.
Page 4
Industry News

Thames Water award-nominated “digital twin” helps save millions
of litres in leaks
A high-tech “digital twin” of Thames Water’s clean water network is helping the company save up to one million litres of water from being lost in leaks every
day.
The new programme compiles data from a range of devices including smart meters and acoustic loggers to create a virtual replica of the network in real-time,
showing how the pipes are performing and acting as an early warning system for potential problems.
The software, which is the first of its kind for the water company, is currently being trialled in Deptford, South London, where it has already identified a number
of leaks caused by high pressures and damaged valves.
As well as highlighting these issues so they can be quickly fixed, the twin can be used to simulate the effects of different repair methods and identify the best
solution.
The success of the twin has seen it short-listed for both the Most Innovative New Technology of the Year and Data Analytics, Cloud and AI project of the Year
at the Water Industry Awards 2021.
David Gable, Thames Water’s project delivery manager, said:“Reducing leakage is one of our most important priorities, and also one of our biggest challenges.
I’m delighted the digital twin in Deptford is helping us track leaks in the area and ensure we get as much water as possible going where we want it – our
customers’ homes and businesses.
“Being able to capture a range of data streams and present them in a simple format adds another tool to our armoury in the fight against leakage and I hope
this is a model that can be rolled out across our network.”
The twin is among a number of digital tools which feeds in to the Thames Water’s recently-launched system risk visualisation (SRV), a tool which combines
data from a number of different systems in to an overall picture, allowing the company to visualise the performance of its network and identify emerging risks.
The system complies vast sources of up-to-date information on flow rates, pressure and reservoir storage levels, which can then be viewed in a number of
ways, including on schematics, maps, tables and graphs. It then uses a traffic light system to flag potential problems.
As well as providing an overall “health check” of the network, SRV can be used during major incidents like bursts or as an early warning system for problems
which could impact customers.
Page 5

Canal & River Trust Adopts Binnies' And Rezatec's Satellite-Based
Intelligent Dam Monitoring System, iDMS
TheCanal&RiverTrusthassignedanagreementforasubscriptiontothenewly
launched iDMS tool, which combines Binnies’ reservoir expertise and digital
ecosystem services with Rezatec’s unique geospatial artificial intelligence
techniques to monitor critical reservoir infrastructure. The system will deliver
improvements in reservoir safety while enhancing operational efficiency.
iDMS,whichisbeingtrialledbytheCanal&RiverTrustatthreeofitsreservoirs,
identifies the unique basal rhythm of the dams by combining historic satellite
data with advanced analytics, using Binnies’ technical expertise. The tool then
monitorsfuturemovementofthedamsandreportsonanyanomalouschanges
that could indicate a problem. This remote and scalable solution works to
millimetre accuracy and identifies additional possible failure indicators such
as changes in vegetation moisture and vigour, which may indicate seepage.
“The Canal & River Trust welcomes innovative and promising technologies
that enable us to proactively manage our assets, and we are looking forward
to working with Binnies and Rezatec on this project to support us in meeting
our strategic objectives,” said David Prisk, Reservoir Asset Manager, Canal & River Trust.
These new data sets bring an improved perspective, valuable insights and enhanced resilience to reservoir asset health monitoring and will boost best practice.
The data will be used to provide a more detailed risk profile, to prioritise future investment and to enable focused operational activity to improve reservoir
safety.
“We are excited to be bringing this new science to the Canal & River Trust through our iDMS product,” added Rachel Pether, All Reservoirs Panel Engineer,
Binnies. “We will be reviewing the information collected with great interest as it will give the reservoir industry a much enhanced understanding of both routine
dam movement and potentially anomalous movement, which may be the precursor of a dam safety incident. It is fantastic that we are providing our proven and
leading-edge technology, which is at the forefront of innovation, to the Canal & River Trust. iDMS is enabling our customers to be alerted to new insights and to
have better visibility of their reservoirs,” commented Tim Vallings, Chief Commercial Officer, Rezatec.
Aerial Laser Imaging For Better Natural Disaster Preparation And
Response
Earlier this year, a historic cold snap left millions of Texans without heat and electricity. In the face of increasing climatic anomalies and future natural disasters of
this scale, Texans need to be well equipped to handle these situations in order to better protect industries, infrastructure and, most importantly, one another.
Today, the Near Surface Observatory (NSO), a scientific group under the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin, is helping to do just that.
The NSO group focuses its impact on near-surface environments, or what Director Jeffery Paine dubs “critical life-supporting zones on Earth.”
NSO uses airborne lidar technology to create detailed geological mapping in diverse environments. Lidar (light detection and ranging) is essentially laser imaging
from above, and it uses specialized instruments on drones or planes that emit light toward the ground. The instruments then sense when and how the light bounces
back to determine precise measurements of distance. Using airborne lidar, NSO routinely surveys Texas lands and updates the state with important geological
evolution data. It is crucial that the state always has access to the latest information and mappings, so it can more accurately predict weather patterns, assess
infrastructure development and planning, and monitor ecosystems, such as wetlands and bodies of water, and soils for agriculture.
But perhaps the most crucial function of lidar is to better prepare the state for natural disasters or climate anomalies, which have become more common over the
years. In other words, “NSO instruments provide crucial information on the location, extent, susceptibility and severity of these hazards, which allows governments,
businesses and individuals to take steps to mitigate the impact of these hazards,” Paine says.
NSO scientists also use lidar after disasters to provide information about damage and predictions for recovery.
After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, NSO researchers worked around the clock to rapidly acquire lidar data and imagery. The team flew the aircraft during the day and
handed the acquired data over for processing that night, making critical information available to emergency responders by the very next day. This data was used
for a variety of purposes, including assessing storm impacts on beach and dune systems, identifying debris and infrastructure wreckage, and even helping establish
a recovery baseline.
Ultimately, Lidar is a powerful tool with a variety of uses including disaster preparation and relief. NSO’s work provides first responders, governmental agencies
and researchers with rapidly accessible and trusted data to make important decisions for Texas. As for the future, “Many challenges face Texas as its population
continues to grow,” Paine says. “Just focusing on the coast, for example, prospects for increasing rates of relative sea-level rise threaten our extensive coastal lands
where population and infrastructure is also concentrated, making frequent monitoring of those lands today a necessity.”
Page 6

Suez brings satellite infrastructure intelligence product to the
UK
Suez has announced the launch of MasterPlan - the latest product from technology partner Utilis Corp - a deployable pipe deficiency data layer to improve
operational efficiencies for water utilities. An evolution of the same technology used to find leaks underground using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors,
MasterPlan provides actionable insights to utility asset management plans.
Based on five years and thousands of validated Utilis leak location points of interest, the new MasterPlan algorithm assesses the deficiency of an entire pipe
system using multiple SAR images taken months apart.
The trained algorithm scores pipe segments based on observed non-surfacing leaks and provides a single GIS dataset of pipes scored from one to five (level of
deficiency observed) for easy input into any GIS system or asset planning model.
Nick Haskins, business development manager for Suez said: “Using data obtained from satellites has proven effective in detecting drinking water leaks and we
are delighted that the Utilis team have been able to take their algorithm to the next level and provide analytics to help water companies make better decisions
when deciding which pipes to replace or rehabilitate."
MasterPlan is an actual, not predictive, measurement of non-surfacing pipe leaks, making it unique in the industry of asset management modeling data sets
where most are based on pipe attributes (such as age and material) or history (such as location and number of breaks).
Arqiva awarded roll-out of initial smart water metering network
by Northumbrian Water
Arqiva has been selected by Northumbrian Water Group to deliver an initial roll-out of a smart metering network in Essex, where it operates as Essex & Suffolk
Water.
The project will support Northumbrian Water in its commitment to deliver smart metering to customers within the next Asset Management Plan (AMP 2020-
2025), as well as meeting the company’s target to ensure all domestic meters are smart by 2035.
The five-year contract will see Arqiva build and monitor the fixed-network infrastructure, delivering connectivity to up to 11,000 domestic meters, replacing
both meters already installed and installing new meters for un-metered supplies in empty meter chambers which have been identified. Meters will be provided
by Arqiva’s metering partner Sensus, a Xylem brand, and installations will begin in May. The network is planned to go live at the same time.
Lessons learned from this initial implementation will be used to guide the subsequent smart-meter roll-out over the rest of Northumbrian Water Group’s
operating regions.
Gary Adams, head of smart programme , at Northumbrian Water, said: “Northumbrian Water is delighted announce this accelerator project with Arqiva, which
will enable us to further understand the role smart metering can play in improving our water management capabilities and the service our customers receive.
We are at the very early stages of our smart programme and we’re excited to see the value this initial partnership with Arqiva will bring as we decide on our long
term smart strategy and look for a scalable solution that meets our future demands.
Alex Pannell, executive director, commercial broadcast and utilities at Arqiva, said: “Our role is to help water companies meet their regulatory targets and
customer goals by supporting the delivery of a smart metering programme by 2025. By assisting Northumbrian Water Group in this initial process we’ll help to
identify and reduce leakage while communicating consumer consumption behaviour. The reduction of water leakage and consumption are just two of the ways
in which the industry can reduce its carbon footprint too. It goes without saying that the less water lost in the network, the less energy is needed to treat and
supply it to the network.
“We operate the only at-scale smart water metering networks in the UK for some of the largest water companies and our track record demonstrates we can
deliver a guaranteed resilient, secure and scalable network solution to support this initial process. We are delighted that Northumbrian Water has brought us
on board to help in partnership with Sensus.”
Andrew Welsh, sales director, Water Utilities at Xylem said: “We are pleased to be joining forces with Arqiva once again to assist Northumbrian Water Group in
their initial implementation of smart metrology with Sensus FlexNet communication network. We’re committed to helping Northumbrian Water achieve their
goals with proven, reliable and secure Automatic Metering Infrastructure.”
Page 7

CSOs - BBC's Panorama programme accuses water companies of
dumping sewage illegally in rivers
An investigation by the Panorama programme aired on the BBC this month said it had found that water companies have been illegally dumping untreated
sewage into rivers in England and Wales. According to detailed data analysed by Panorama gathered via environmental information requests for information on
a handful of sewage works from 10 water companies in England and Wales, some companies have regularly breached the conditions in their permits.
The investigators on the programme concluded that the data suggested seven of the 10 companies had treatment works that were breaching their permits by
dumping sewage before they were treating the specified volumes. The investigation found evidence that one company had provided incorrect information to
the Environment Agency about the sewage it was discharging into the river and another water company which was discharging sewage without a permit.
Welsh Water was named as one of the worst offenders – according to Panorama, the data shows three of its treatment works were in breach of their permits.
The programme claimed that the not-for-profit company’s Aberbaiden plant had illegally discharged untreated sewage on 12 consecutive days in December into
the River Usk and had also been using a sewage overflow pipe on the river which did not have a permit. Welsh Water told Panorama it did not accept its sites
were operating illegally and that it hoped to have a permit in place for the overflow pipe by July. A statement issued by the water company said:
“As a not for profit company so closely linked to the environment, we are very aware of the impact our operations can have on our surroundings and take our
environmental performance very seriously. …
“Our network also includes combined storm overflows (CSOs) which play an essential role in stopping sewage from backing up into customers’ properties during
periods of heavy rain. They usually release storm waters into rivers or the sea and their operation is highly regulated and closely monitored by our regulator
Natural Resources Wales.
“Whilst CSOs are mainly operating as designed and permitted, we recognise that with environmental legislation tightening and customer expectations changing,
more needs to be done. However, this requires significant additional funding and will take many years to deliver.”
Welsh Water said it had invested £8.1 million in improving the monitoring of the CSOs since 2015, and now had spill monitors on 96.7% of all of its CSOs – more
than any other water company.
Thames Water’s Mogden treatment works in south-west London which treats waste from more than two million people in the city was also highlighted in the
programme.
Panorama said the data showed the water had been illegally discharging billions of litres of untreated sewage and had breached its permit on 43 days in 2020.
Thames Water told the programme that a small number of its sewage works had struggled following periods of heavy rainfall and that it was investing heavily
to improve them, commenting:
"Putting untreated sewage into rivers is unacceptable to us, to our customers and to the environment, even when legally permitted."
"We absolutely want to go further, invest more, and play our part in helping the environment to thrive."
Panorama also investigated Yorkshire Water’s Wetherby treatment works and said the utility had failed to report sewage spills into the River Wharfe to the
Environment Agency.
Yorkshire Water commented:
"We have not misled the Environment Agency, this is a single data anomaly within a very large set of data and we will certainly investigate what has happened
here. There is a process for correcting submitted data with the Environment Agency and if it is found that there has been an unreported discharge we will report
this in due course."
The water companies' use of Combined Sewer Overflows to discharge untreated wastewater has become a high level issue at public, regulatory and political
level.
Data released by the Environment Agency at the start of April have revealed that the ten water and wastewater companies in England and Wales discharged raw
sewage into rivers in England more than 400,000 times for more than three million hours last year.
In March the Government confirmed that new measures to cut water companies' reliance on storm overflows to discharge sewage into rivers are to become law.
Responding to the Panorama report on river pollution, a Water UK spokesperson said:
“Water companies are passionate about their role as custodians of our natural world, and are investing £5 billion on environmental improvements including
£1.1bn on improvements to storm overflows. This includes more monitoring of overflows, investment in wastewater treatment works and using natural
alternatives and the latest technology to keep sewage out of rivers and take pressure off wastewater networks.
“Water companies have an important role but we need others to play their part. This is a complex issue and the pollution that harms our rivers comes from a
wide range of sources– including from agriculture, mining, roads and heavy industry. Collaboration is vital and is already underway through initiatives such as
the Government’s Storm Overflows Taskforce which aims to find a long-term solution to the use of overflows.
“As the programme made clear, water companies face a huge challenge dealing with wet wipes and other items being flushed down toilets. Water UK research
shows around 40% of pollution incidents may be the result of some kind of blockage in the sewer, and we know that wet wipes are a leading cause of that.
Everyone plays a role in improving the health of our rivers and bringing about the long-term change we all want to see.”
Page 8

Ofwat Innovation Fund - winners announced for inaugural £2m
Innovation in Water Challenge
Eleven winners of the Innovation in Water Challenge (IWC), the first in a series of competitions funded through Ofwat’s Innovation Fund, will receive up to
£250,000 each for initiatives such as converting waste into green energy and using artificial intelligence and CCTV to spot leaks.
innovations that turn ammonia in wastewater into green energy and use artificial intelligence (AI) or unexploited telecoms cables to detect leaks in the water
network are among the winners of Ofwat’s inaugural £2 million Innovation in Water Challenge (IWC).
Led by water companies and involving a number of partner organisations, the eleven collaborative initiatives will receive up to £250,000 each to tackle the
biggest issues facing the water sector in England and Wales.
The winning entries, recommended by an independent panel of judges, include green initiatives such as planting and restoring seagrass meadows on the Essex
and Suffolk coastlines, a scheme to turn ammonia in wastewater into green hydrogen gas, and software that can monitor the degradation of wildlife habitats.
Other ideas focus on the prevention of leaks in the water network through the use of AI, CCTV, and unexploited optical fibre strands in telecoms networks, as
well as using behavioural science to better support vulnerable customers.
John Russell, Senior Director at Ofwat, commented:
“Innovation has the potential to drive a sea-change in the water sector and tackle some of the biggest challenges we are facing in society. Solutions that turn
wastewater into green hydrogen and the use of artificial intelligence to detect leaks are just some of the cutting-edge winning initiatives that we hope will make
a real impact in the coming months and mark the beginning of a new wave of innovation in the sector.
“We were particularly pleased to see so many water company collaborations among the entries, and the winning proposal for the development of the sector’s
Innovation Centre of Excellence will be crucial in driving future change. We are looking forward to the future rounds of the competitions and supporting even
more transformative projects to fruition over the coming years.”
Run by Ofwat and Nesta Challenges, and supported by Arup and Isle Utilities, the IWC was the first competition this year within Ofwat’s £200 million Innovation
Fund. It is part of the regulator’s goal to create an innovative and collaborative water sector that meets the evolving needs of customers, society and the
environment in the years to come.
Rachel Skinner, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and chair of the IWC judging panel, said:
“It was refreshing to see such a high standard of entries across the breadth of the water sector in this inaugural funding round. Taken together, the short-listed
entries provided a clear snapshot of the industry and its current challenges but also multiple opportunities for widespread transformation in diverse areas
ranging from the urgent need for accelerated action on climate mitigation and resilience, to new ways to build value for customers as the social and economic
impacts of COVID-19 play out. They also highlighted huge potential for onward cross-sector learning and collaboration that will now be explored in detail. I’m
very much looking forward to seeing the funded projects take flight.”
The Innovation in Water Challenge winning entries are:
• The AI & Sewer Defect Analysis project will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to automatically recognise features in CCTV inspection of
sewers. This will give a better understanding of sewer deterioration and reduce the cost of inspections.
• CatchmentLIFE will build bespoke software that volunteers and experts can use, showing the impacts of habitat degradation on wildlife and ecological
communities.
• Enabling Whole Life Carbon Design will deliver tools and processes to support the cultural and behavioural changes necessary to deliver low whole life
carbon and cost solutions and ultimately zero carbon emissions as a water industry.
• Industrial Symbiosis will look at new ways waste or by-product materials from one company can be used as the raw materials for another.
• Leak Detection using Dark Fibre will use unexploited optical fibre strands in existing telecoms cables to detect and therefore prevent leaks in water
and wastewater networks.
• The Organics Ammonia Recovery project will recover ammonia in wastewater and turn it into green hydrogen fuel – a first for the industry.
• Reservoir water community monitoring for algal associated risk assessment will build on environmental DNA monitoring methodologies to detect
algae in drinking water so as to improve the taste and smell.
• Seagrass Seeds of Recovery will restore seagrass and improve estuaries and coastal waters by increasing biodiversity and absorbing carbon and
nitrogen emissions.
• Smarter Tanks to build a resilient network will explore how to best monitor drinking water and rainwater storage tanks using real-time monitoring and
control solutions, to see if more water can be stored when needed most, such as during extended dry periods or drought.
• Supporting customersinvulnerablecircumstanceswillusebehaviouralsciencetoimproveengagementwithhard-to-reachcustomersandcommunities
during planned and unplanned events, including help to manage bills and understanding which forms of communication customers prefer.
• A partnership of many water companies will lead the delivery of UK Water Sector Innovation Centre of Excellence (CoE) – a virtual innovation accelerator
hub to promote collaboration in and beyond the water sector and drive transformational innovation.
Ofwat’s second competition for 2021, the £40m Water Breakthrough Challenge, opens for entries on 6 May 2021. This fund is for initiatives that water companies
would otherwise be unable to invest in or explore – and may exist in other sectors of the economy or worldwide. This might include, for example: trialling new
technology, commercial models, ways of working or business practices.
Page 9

Thames Water hits half a million smart meter milestone
Thames Water is celebrating a key milestone in its drive to protect future water resources having
installed half a million smart meters in its region.
The company’s roll-out, which currently covers London and the village of Haslemere, near Guildford,
is the biggest smart water meter programme in the UK. As well as giving customers greater control
over their water use and bills, the data is also proving a vital tool in Thames Water’s battle to reduce
leakage and meet the unprecedented demand for water influenced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Mark Cooper, head of metering at Thames Water, said: “The use of smart meters has been a real
game changer as they give us such a detailed insight into exactly where the water we put into
supply goes, when our customers use water and how much they use. The data has been particularly
invaluable over the last 12 months as the traditional demand patterns we’ve been used to have
changed significantly due to lockdown.
“The typical peak demand periods of early morning and evening are no longer so prominent as fewer people are leaving their homes for work so might shower,
use the washing machine or water the plants in the middle part of the day instead."
By 2025 Thames Water plans to begin the roll out of smart meters across the Thames Valley and expects to have meters fitted for all suitable homes by 2035.
To date, smart meters have helped detect more than 28,000 leaks on customers’ private supply pipes, which have been repaired by Thames Water or the
property owners and saved a massive 43 million litres of water a day. Customer side leaks account for around a quarter of Thames Water’s total leakage and the
meter data was cited as playing a large part in the company meeting its leakage reduction target in 2019/20.
Data from smart meters is also being used to support Thames’ award-winning smarter home visit programme, by highlighting higher using households who are
then prioritised for a visit. During the visits they received free water saving advice and can have gadgets installed in their homes to help them reduce their water
use, such as water saving tap and shower heads. Smart metered customers use on average 17 per cent less water than those without a meter and typically high-
using households can reduce their usage by around 100 litres per day following a smarter home visit.
The smarter home advisors can also arrange for leaking loos to be fixed for free and can signpost householders to Thames Water’s priority services and financial
support packages if they are classed as vulnerable or struggle with their bills.
Dr Nathan Richardson, head of policy and strategy at Waterwise, said: "Thames Water's smart water meter programme is sector leading and Waterwise are huge
fans. It is helping the company and its customers save water; reduce carbon emissions and ultimately it means that more water is left in the environment. We
would like to see government, regulators and the rest of the sector getting on board, with smart meters rolled out to all homes.”
The Rivers Trust publishes 2020 spill data map
The Rivers Trust has published this month their spill data map based upon the data that the Water Companies have submitted to the Environment Agency as part
of the annual overflow data. This data reported that untreated sewage was discharged 403,171 times, for over 3 million hours, across England in 2020. Dŵr Cymru
(Welsh Water) has shared its 2020 data with The Rivers Trust, showing that in Wales 104,482 spills occurred for a total of 868,307 hours.
The Rivers Trust has combined this to produce a clear and accessible picture of the state of sewage pollution in England and Wales through our Sewage Map. The
map allows river users to see what is happening at the local level and where treated and untreated discharges occurred last year.
What’s the story?
Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and storm overflows (SOs) are designed to discharge untreated, diluted sewage directly into rivers and watercourses in event of
extreme rainfall to prevent the flooding of homes and businesses. Whilst we estimate that 40% of them are more likely to be operating as designed with less than
20 spills a year, 40% are now shown to be operating poorly, and 20% are unmonitored, plus there are many inconsistencies in the current data. Any overflow which
spills more than 60 times per year should be investigated by the Environment Agency, or 40 times if monitoring has been in place for several years.
This month’s data shows that roughly 25% of known overflows spilled more than 40 times in 2020; about 20% spilled more than 60 times; and around 8 % spilled
more than 100 times. Whilst different reporting methods mean that the data is not directly comparable between water company areas, it is broadly similar across
the country and in England and Wales (where water has not been privatised).
The data for storm overflows in England was made publicly available by the EA for the first time last week in an effort to increase transparency. Using the Sewage
Map, you can search by area or postcode to see the number and duration of spills in any location across England or Wales.
Christine Colvin, Director for Partnerships and Communications at The Rivers Trust, added: “CSOs and SOs are the canary in the mine for waste water management,
and it is clear from these figures that the system is no longer functioning. With increasingly volatile weather patterns due to climate change as well as towns and
cities growing in size, this problem will only get worse and our infrastructure will not be able to cope with demand.
“In updating our Sewage Map, we’ve made data accessible to the public, and hope it will help to trigger overdue change, to plan for more sustainable urban
drainage. We can’t keep blaming Victorian infrastructure for today’s river pollution. Increased investment in waste water management on a national scale is
absolutely imperative. We also have to explore and in invest in upstream nature-based solutions to fix our broken system. Alongside that, we can all contribute to
the solution by only flushing pee, poo and paper – not putting wet wipes down the loo or pouring oil down the kitchen drain.”
Page 10

Harnessing data and analytics helps water companies meet global
alarm system standards
With the expectation on water companies to become more proactive in their network management, failure to act on the stream of data coming into control
rooms and align with recognised industry standards can have far reaching consequences.
Control rooms are a 24/7 central point for water and wastewater operational information, and the hub for incident and crisis management. UK water utilities
receive between 40-60,000 alarms from SCADA systems per quarter, on average. During a major event such as a storm, this can be significantly higher.
If an alarm is not actioned and subsequently leads to an event, such as pollution or a tap water quality issue, there could be serious penalties from regulators,
impacting on targets, performance league tables and customer satisfaction, and potentially leading to fines or prosecutions.
In March 2021, Defra announced plans to bring in legislation to reduce sewage discharges by water companies into rivers. This adds to the mounting pressure
already on water companies, including an Environment Agency expectation for zero pollution events and stretching Ofwat targets for supply interruptions,
bursts, leakage and sewer flooding in AMP7 (asset management period 2020-25).
The need to embed data-driven technology into business-as-usual practices is well recognised, with Ofwat in December 2020 reporting “there is scope for water
companies to deliver increased productivity and efficiency by taking advantage of Big Data and technological improvements”.
Rising pressures on control rooms confirms need for better management of alarm systems
But while some companies are making steady progress in achieving proactive network
management, the rising pressures on control rooms confirms the need for better
management of alarm systems.
CollaborativeworkshopswithUKutilitieshaveresultedinAlarmVision,anewcloud-based,
real-time dashboard, which aligns to recognised global alarm management standards,
the Engineering Equipment & Materials Users Association guidance (EEMUA191) and the
International Society of Automation standard (ISA18.2).
Client feedback very much shaped the functionality of AlarmVision, which provides
teams with situational awareness to effectively manage telemetry alarms. The software
analyses the stream of alarms that come from a customer’s telemetry system.
Dashboards give a measure of control over alarms, based on key performance indicators
EEMUA191 and ISA18.2 and allow action to be taken to help operators maintain or gain
control.
The ability to gain real-time or backwards-looking analysis of how the control room is
operating against both standards gives insight into whether the control room is at risk of
missing critical alarms.
Operators can identify root cause of largest proportion of alarms being generated on their system
Operators can also identify the root cause of the largest proportion of alarms being generated on their system – for example, a faulty pump at a site could be
causing 10% of total alarms on a given day. This gives water companies and municipalities insight that they can action to prioritise resources, reduce the number
of alarms, and understand pattern analysis on when these alarms are occurring.
The alarm history from the customer system is mirrored in the AlarmVision cloud platform and results are presented in real-time, enabling proactive action
where necessary. It also shows clearly whether works scheduling matches alarm activity and provides a way to identify most frequent alarms and those that are
troublesome.
Analysing data to understand which recurring alarms are taking up valuable operator time means the root cause can be fixed and the problem alarm removed.
AlarmVision signals a new direction for Ovarro and reflects the changing needs of water companies globally, as they transition to meet unprecedented challenges
arising from climate change, more intense weather events and population growth. Now is the time for the sector to fully harness the technology and the data
that is available to meet these demands.
Page 11

Article:
How do you solve a
problem like CSOs?
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are a thorn in many a side. This antiquated system, which falls under the responsibility of the water industry and is regulated
by the Environment Agency, was designed to prevent homes and businesses from flooding during extreme weather. It acts as a pressure release valve, allowing
excess water into rivers and the sea to prevent sewers overflowing. But what can be done when one person’s protection is another’s pollution?
The reason CSOs were originally built was to protect homes and businesses from flooding. Under extreme weather conditions they prevent sewers from
becoming overloaded, acting as the pressure release that allows floodwater to escape into a river or the sea, and not back up into the toilets and shower trays
of ground floor bathrooms. Because of the job they do, and despite calling them ‘sewer overflows’, most of the water they release is rainwater, not raw sewage.
“As an industry, we know CSOs are not suitable solution to deal with the issue of overloading of a sewer network”
CSOs were created at a time when society understood a lot less about the environment than it does today. Many CSOs are decades old. Today, as an industry,
we know they are not a suitable solution to deal with the issue of overloading of a sewer network. At Anglian Water, we’ve been working through them for
years, and fixing them where they cause problems.
This isn’t new and it isn’t something that is driven by the recent media or political coverage. It’s because we don’t think they are fit for purpose and we want
any issues with them resolved. We must do this in a prioritised way however, as the engineering solutions are not straightforward and the cost to customers is
significant. So, we address those posing an environmental risk first and are working through the rest.
But although they have been in place for many years, the spotlight is increasingly falling on them, and the perception of the damage they do.
CSOs – “Nobody is trying to hide behind ‘regulatory permits”
Each of our CSOs has been assessed for the environmental risk potential, as defined by the Environment Agency, and they have each been permitted to act as a
‘storm overflow’. But despite being consented by our regulator, it is understandable that no one finds it acceptable that even extremely diluted sewage reaches
our rivers. As an industry we must do (and are doing) more to address the problem.
Nobody is trying to hide behind ‘regulatory permits’, though. To do so might, at best, come across as a benign neglect for the environment. At worst, it might
look like water companies simply not caring.
The truth is quite the opposite - at Anglian Water, we care very deeply. So much so that in 2019 we became the first utility company to have consideration of
wider social and environmental impact written into our Articles of Association - the legal documents that underpin the foundation of our business. We are
bound to consider the impacts of what we do on the environment and the communities we serve. These aren’t just words – it's an obligation we’ve placed on
ourselves.
“Fixing CSOs is not the silver bullet for improving all river water quality”
However, fixing CSOs is not the silver bullet for improving all river water quality. In truth, storm overflows account for just 4% of all the reasons for rivers and
waterways not achieving the best water quality. As is clear from Environment Agency river quality data, there are many contributing factors outside of water
company control that cumulatively have a more significant impact on the health of our waterways.
This is a problem that reaches much further than the water industry alone and so much more needs to be done if we are to achieve our aspirations on the
quality of UK waterbodies. A focus on CSOs alone isn’t enough.
We are going to do our bit. So, how do we plan to solve a problem like CSOs – and why can’t we just simply rip them all out?
“Cost of replacing assets like CSOs with new systems …would run into many billions”
The cost of replacing assets like CSOs with new systems and flood mitigation (as properties still have to be protected from flooding) would run into many
billions. Customer bills would rise dramatically, not to mention the disruption caused by completely re-plumbing the major cities in our region.
We have a responsibility to strike a balance between making the vital investments needed in sustainable services and resilience for the future while keeping
bills affordable for all. The process of removing CSOs cannot be achieved overnight. And when you throw in other challenges like climate change and investing
to negate future water deficit, too – what you end up with is a real conundrum.
Event Duration Monitors (EDMs) now in place on 700+ of Anglian’s CSOs - plan is to have them in place across all CSOs by end 2023
“So what are we doing? We’ve installed Event Duration Monitors (EDMs) on more than 700 of our CSOs, and plan to have them in place across all CSOs by the
end of 2023. The EDM initiative is aimed at improving the visibility of what CSOs are doing, to identify which ones are spilling too frequently and making all
this information public. Clear data on when and for how long these assets spill will enable us to target investment to the assets that most need attention. This
approach has worked well for our coastal CSOs, to protect bathing water quality in our region for over eight years now.
Our EDM programme is many, many times larger in scale and ambition than our coastal programme, and with any new technology comes the challenge of
ensuring it’s set up to be as accurate as possible. Because this monitoring system is so new (and because we’re asking it to work in quite a hostile environment),
we’ve seen quite a lot of erroneous data – some of which has been reported in the press.
Page 12

In some cases, the technology has triggered hundreds of hours of ‘spill data’ that simply hasn’t happened. And this can be verified by our technicians, who visit
any unusual alerts at our sites to check if the equipment is operating correctly. We are rectifying this, and should see a marked improvement in future data sets.
We see the system as a really positive move as this data will allow us to target future investment in CSOs accurately.
Unflushables are another significant cause of harmful environmental impacts and are often a reason for overflows operating. Simply put, sewer blockages
caused by wet wipes, sanitary items, fats and grease are one of the main causes of sewer flooding in homes and the environment. This is one of the reasons that
we have led the promotion of the ‘fine to flush’ branding for moist tissue products that don’t contain plastic and can be safety flushed away.
“We all want accurate information and targeted investment where it will have the most impact”
We all want accurate information and targeted investment where it will have the most impact. And most importantly, we all want healthy rivers. We’re committed
to tackling CSOs. But it will take a joined-up approach from others too – landowners, highways teams, housing developers and customers – to help stop run off
from roads and fields, to divert rainwater away from sewers, and to stop putting unflushable items down the drain, ultimately preventing blockages, to make a
real difference to our waterways.
The issue of CSOs is important, but it must not become the sole narrative when it comes to safeguarding UK rivers. There is a real risk that if all investment is
targeted here we will never realise the improvements we all want, and our rivers have waited so long to see.
About the Author
Dr Lucinda Gilfoyle is the Head of Quality at Anglian Water and has many years of experience in water and wastewater
management. She has previously worked as a strategy manager working with both inland river catchments and also coastal
areas for Anglian Water. As part of this work she developed a innovative programme of coastal and catchment monitoring long
before the AMP6 event duration monitoring programme was instigated.
Anglian Water is the Water & Sewerage Company for Eastern England covering the largest geographical area of any of the water
& sewerage companies with an operation area stretching from the North of the Thames to the Humber Estuary. It covers the
vast majority of the Eastern Coast of England
Conservation group warns Environment Agency not doing its job
- “Government has starved the Agency of funds"
The Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) has published “Doing its job?”, a report on the state of the Environment Agency and its role in protecting English rivers,
lakes and streams. The report concludes that the Agency is failing to protect rivers, not monitoring, inspecting or prosecuting enough, with its hands tied by central
Government.
The conservation groups is calling on the Government to sufficiently fund the EA, and ensure it is appropriately staffed, to undertake the work required to restore
the freshwater environment to good ecological status.
Nick Measham, Chief Executive of S&TC said:
“The Environment Agency turned 25 years old this month but our rivers will not be celebrating. Despite a quarter of a century of its oversight, the freshwater
aquatic environment is still heavily polluted, fragmented and we face a biodiversity crisis with many freshwater species in steep decline or, in the case of the Atlantic
salmon, at risk of extinction. We are at a point when business as usual is no longer an option if we are to reverse wilful river damage and habitat destruction”.
The report says that the basis of any strategy to protect and enhance the freshwater environment has to be monitoring, but the EA’s monitoring efforts have shrunk
considerably over time. There is no longer a coherent and comprehensive picture of the state of the freshwater environment in England, with old data used to plug
today’s data gaps.
Amongst other things the report shows that:
• over the last decade or more, what little progress there had been in improving the overall quality and ecological status of the freshwater environment in
England has plateaued. Only 14% of English water bodies are in good ecological condition.
• the introduction of operator self-monitoring by the Agency ten years ago, whereby dischargers were left to monitor themselves, dramatically reduced
the deterrent to would-be polluters and, as the evidence shows, has opened the door to cheating;
• the rate of inspection carried out by Agency staff at regulated sites has reached an extremely low level with some water company sewage treatment
works not being inspected over an entire decade. Many will only receive a single visit from the EA over five or more years.
• the EA inspection rate of English farms, now subject to regulations on avoiding agricultural diffuse pollution, means that farms can only expect to be
inspected once every 263 years.
• the number of prosecutions conducted by the EA has dwindled dramatically over time with the rate of decline increasing rapidly since 2012/2013.
• the useful stigma of criminal conviction has largely been removed as a deterrent to would-be polluters and those who would harm the freshwater
environment.
• the EA’s overall environment and business budget has shrunk dramatically over the last decade and was, in 2017, roughly only 60% of its 2008 level.
The report is also calling operator self-monitoring to be abolished, with the EA either returning to a system of taking samples itself by way of its own staff visiting
points of discharge, or by way of the installation of continuous monitoring equipment operated not by dischargers or abstractors, but by the EA itself or contractors
to the EA.
Page 13

Article:
How To Do Level
Monitoring Better
Existing level monitoring, usually for combined sewer overflow (CSO) or event duration monitoring (EDM) purposes has been in regular use in the U.K. for over
a decade, but the equipment hasn’t changed much in that time. With the current technology comes limitations. So, the question Dave Walker, co-founder
and commercial director at wastewater monitoring specialists Detectronic, has been asking is: How can we do level monitoring better for the benefit of water
companies, their customers, and the environment?
EDM – Sewer Network Monitoring
External flooding in trunk sewers is a common issue faced by every water company. The sewer network has to stand up to so many challenges from natural
weather events to man-made problems such as wet wipes and ‘fatbergs’. It’s inevitable that at certain times it will simply no longer be able to cope and flooding
will occur. Being able to predict a problem well in advance of it occurring is, of course, the key. And to achieve that, you need consistent, robust, and highly
accurate data.
The level data below was gathered last spring from an ultrasonic monitor placed in a client’s wastewater network. The blue line along the centre of the graph
below is true data while the spikes are simply ‘noise’ — and therein lie the limitations of existing technology.
Think about trying to have a conversation with a friend. You are one side of the road; your friend is on the other. It’s a busy road and trucks, cars, and
motorbikes are driving by every few seconds. You can hear some words your friend is saying but not all of them. As the traffic speeds up and gets noisier, it’s
impossible to hear anything your friend is saying, so you give up and go inside.
What would’ve made your conversation better, easier, and more productive? Crossing the road and standing next to your friend, of course. Problem solved!
True, there are companies out there that have created software with clever algorithms that analyse data and filter out noise. Surely, though, it’s better to
generate reliable, accurate, and sound data from your sensor, so you don’t need fancy algorithms and additional software. More on generating decent data
later!
It’s Just Too Noisy — The Limitations Of Ultrasonic Level Monitoring
The ‘noise’ spikes you can see in the data are caused by the very same proximity issue. Let’s explore the reasons for this:
• Limited range. An ultrasonic level sensor must be placed high up in the channel, normally around 3m (~10 ft.) above the invert. That’s a
long way from the target being measured!
• Blanking distance or ‘dead-band’. The sensor will switch off when the wastewater in the channel gets close and, at that point, will only
record a null value.
• Beam spread. Placing a sensor at 3mm equates to a 1:5 or 600mm (~24 in.) beam spread in a large asset. In a small channel, placing at
1m that could result in a beam spread of 200mm (~8 in.). The soundwaves being picked up by the ultrasonic sensor bounce off the sides
of the channel within the beam spread, thus creating anomalies in the data.
• Wind speed. Any change in wind speed or the movement of air through the area being measured will affect the ultrasonic sensor
soundwaves.
Figure 1: Graphical plot showing poor level data/erroneous spiking
Page 14

• Surface foaming and FOG. If the surface of the target being measured is affected by foam or there is a high density of fats, oil, and grease
(FOG) in the network, they will deaden and absorb any sound that would have an effect on the data.
• Temperature. A 5°C change in temperature will result in a data error of up to 7.5mm when measuring the level within the network.
Let’s Get Closer
It’s clear from ongoing analysis (and several decades of level monitoring experience), the closer that the sensor can be placed to the target to be measured, the
better. Getting up close leaves far less room for error and a cleaner, more precise echo can be achieved.
So, we set out to complete a number of trials for our existing customers, putting this concept into action and observing and then analysing the results. We
utilized a variety of different sensors, not just ultrasonic ones, including several hydrostatic pressure sensors.
Hydrostatic Pressure Sensors vs. Ultrasonic Sensors
Hydrostatic pressure sensors are very accurate when referenced to the atmosphere. They are typically mounted outside of the channel and they’re rather more
reactive compared to the proactive ultrasonic sensor, since they only really start to work when something starts to happen — i.e., the sensor has to be in to
contact with the liquid. When the wastewater level reaches the sensor, you know there is a problem and you must respond quickly.
Yes, we’ve outlined the limitations of ultrasonic sensors, but the fact remains that they are highly effective when implemented correctly and the limitations are
mitigated; we’ve been using them in our ultrasonic level monitors for many, many years with huge success. With this in mind, and with the opportunity to carry
out trials of new product development equipment across various wastewater networks, we asked the question: Why not combine the benefits of both types of
sensor? Sounds simple, right? It does, but no one has ever done it, until now.
Combining The Benefits
Bringing all the useful elements of ultrasonic sensors and hydrostatic pressure sensors together, our R&D team created the LIDoTT® Smart, a multi-sensor
monitor incorporating both ultrasonic and pressure level technologies.
In order to get the most from the pressure sensor, the LIDoTT® Smart takes the readings from the pressure sensor and the ultrasonic sensor, then uses that data
to calibrate the pressure sensor against any blockages or FOG, regardless of whether it has been offset. The result is that calibration is happening all the time,
so the pressure sensor can continue working up to 10m.
Let’s compare the data between the traditional ultrasonic (see Figure 1) and the LIDoTT as outlined below in Figure 2.
When it comes to the ultrasonic sensor, its close proximity to the target being measured means its ultrasonic energy is focused, which delivers millimetre
accuracy transmission.
Predictive Analytics
If you’re implementing smart network monitoring for proactive maintenance and pollution prevention, you need millimetric data for the predictive analytics
software to give tighter predictions. The only way to get that is with good data, and to get good data out, you need to put good data in!
In combining two different types of sensor, it is now possible to gather measurements over a wider range and, by installing the sensors closer to the target
of measurement (without reducing the measurement range), highly accurate results are delivered. In addition, there is no relevant dead-band; and since the
pressure sensor is calibrated by the ultrasonic, the result is a device that provides reliable and accurate level sensing in any sewer scenario.
Figure 2: Better quality LIDoTT data when compared to the ultrasonic date from figure 1
Page 15

Product Showcase:
MCERTS Radar offers a new way
to help the environment
According to recently published figures from the Environment Agency, water companies discharged raw sewage into rivers in England more than 400,000 times
in 2020. It’s reasons like these that make the reliable and accurate monitoring of all discharges into the environment so important. And why the Environment
Agency places so much emphasis on schemes like MCERTS, because they ensure this monitoring is done correctly, regularly inspected and properly verified.
To make this more accessible to all water-industry users, VEGA are delighted to announce a first for their 80 GHz compact radar: MCERTS Class 1 approval. The
world’s largest radar level sensor manufacturer developed their own special FMCW level radar chip to make the low-cost, high-performance yet compact level
radar sensors available at such an affordable price point.
But why use radar for applications as ‘simple’ as water level? It offers measurement
unaffected by the everyday challenges - ambient temperature changes, more robust
against condensation, foaming surfaces and build up on the sensor; as well as being
an inherently more accurate all-conditions technology. For example, the currently
used legacy technologies - based on ultrasonic level sensing - require protection from
solar gain/air temperature, as any undetected air temperature variations will cause
a measurement error. This could mean that multiple sunshades, additional external
temperature sensors or even dual measuring heads are needed to achieve the equivalent
accuracy to a radar.
In a unique first for an MCERTS open channel flow measurement system, there is now the
option to use the radars as a ‘standalone’ 2-wire loop powered radar transmitter. With
no need for a local controller, making it ideal to use with telemetry systems, the 80GHz
compact radar removes the cost, complexity and power needs for installing a remote
controller/transmitter box. A choice of digital communication using HART or current
output also adds to the application versatility and accuracy – with local controllers
optionally used for additional local display, data-logging, relay and pulse outputs for
level alarms, for flow and triggering volume based samplers. Another unique capability
is the single or twin channel measurement, which could be used to measure both flow
through a structure and storm water spill level, for example.
Bluetooth set up and retrieval of measurement without the need for a local display can be done via an App making it safer and more convenient to use. ATEX
approvals are also available on both sensors and controllers.
We asked Water Industry specialist, Matt Westgate, about the significance of MCERTS for this radar based sensor, the second VEGA radar system to get this
approval.
MCERTS: why is it so important for radar level sensors?
We believe this is an exciting ‘coming of age’ for radar in the water industry, showing that it's got the credibility of class one certification. The performance
and instrument cost also has the commercial benefits often associated with ultrasonic level systems. We really feel we can outperform ultrasonic level systems
head-to-head, proving its superior accuracy and resilience across a range of applications, which would include EDM related measurements, as well as more
conventional open channel flow inlet and discharge measurement. Another big first for us is the unique MCERTS certification that enables just the sensor to
be the transmitter of the flow data, which means no extra controller or box on
the wall is needed, saving time cost and complexity and offering a much better
solution for telemetry data loggers and the like.
Why is it so interesting for radar technology?
Maintaininganaccuratelevelmeasurementindirectsunlightandvaryingambient
temperatures is incredibly important when it comes to EDM and open channel
flow measurements. Accuracy fluctuations occur when technologies affected by
‘solar gain’ or undetected temperature gradients in the air above the surface
cause errors in the level measurement, which are then exponentially calculated
through flow curves associated with flow structures. There has also been the
argument that the flow structures themselves have inherently low accuracy,
therefore the ultrasonic based level and flow measurement does not show up its
fallibility. However we believe you should get the best data you can, to minimise
errors and maximise data accuracy and therefore exploit its value.
A first for MCERTS level devices – loop powered standalone radars with no
controller needed can be now used on MCERTS flow applications
A group of devices has achieved MCERTS status allowing users to choose what best fits
their needs
Page 16

What applications do you see it being most useful for?
As a non-contact technology it is extremely flexible in how and where it can be applied, a level sensor that fits in the palm of your hand, has no dead-band and
can measure up to 15m really covers a vast array of applications. The radars have a number of ATEX approval options to choose from, so there really are no
restrictions as to where it can be mounted. We feel that radar can play the key role in both underground assets and normal open channel flow measurements
both in and out of treatment works, but of course the flexibility and capability of radar doesn't stop there, it extends to sludge tanks and hoppers, digester level
monitoring, chemical tanks and dosing systems, gravity belt thickeners, as well as clean water distribution. We see the MCERTS certification being a foundation
stone in that wall of applications and the final stamp of approval confirming its accuracy.
Radar sensing isn’t it more expensive and complicated to set up?
Actually this is a popular misconception. I have been working with and applying radar level sensors for the last 13 years, and it is great to see that the resilience
and accuracy of this technology can now be enjoyed by the water industry at such an
affordable price and compact design. The robust nature of radar technology means there is
typically less that can go wrong and cause you problems. They are easy to install, need less
engineering input, really quick to setup and don’t need a regular maintenance regime to
ensure they are working correctly. With regards to setup, we have the award winning VEGA
TOOLS App using Bluetooth communication, which is provided with all our new radars and
controllers as standard. This offers quick, simple and safe connection to the instruments via
an intuitive App with application based setup. For example, when you need to verify the
instruments current level reading, the App is the perfect platform for carrying out this task,
especially on instruments with no in-head display or local controller/flow computer or the
location is difficult to access. We see this as particularly useful in relation to EDM UMON3
measurement points, as the current draft product standards state that the sensor status,
in relation to the spill point, must be accessible and verifiable by an MCERTS inspector or
Environment Agency officer. The document states that viewing the level doesn’t have to be
by a physical display but may also be viewed via an App. Feedback from the engineers and
operators in the field is that the app is easy to use, intuitive and most of all, timesaving. We
feel that getting a better more accurate setup first time around is crucial for data quality
and saving time and money.
Why should organisations consider this technology change?
With the continuing development of radar chip technology and the lowering cost, we see radar sensors becoming the standard level sensing technology in
the water sector in years to come. When you combine that with performance gains, even marginal ones, lower engineering costs to install and easier set up,
multiply that by hundreds of sites in the water network, it all adds up to a big potential operational and cost savings, including CO2 though reduced site visits,
and materials.
MCERTS VEGAMET 861/862 Controllers enable single or dual monitoring of
MCERTS applications
Page 17

Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring Virtual
13th - 14th October 2021
The WWEM Conference & Exhibition has been changed to a virtual conference and exhibition for 2021 and a physical conference
and exhibition in 2022. Details on WWEM Virtual will be released in the coming months but it is sure to include huge amount of
technical workshops and events for attendees to enjoy.
International Water Association Digital Water Summit
15th-18th November 2021 - Euskalduna Conference Centre, Bilbao, Spain
In 2021, the first edition of the IWA Digital Water Summit will take place under the tag-line “Join the transformation journey”
designed to be the reference in digitalisation for the global water sector. The Summit has a focus on business and industry, while
technology providers and water utilities will be some of the key participants that will discuss and shape the agenda of the Summit.
The programme includes plenary sessions, interactive discussions, side events, exhibition, technical visits, and social events
Sensor for Water Interest Group Workshops
The Sensors for Water Interest Group has moved their workshops for the foreseeable future to an online webinar format. The next
workshops are
16th June 2021 - Achieving Net Zero
14th July 2021 - How can sensors protect our coastal waters
Water Equipment Show
12th - 13th May 2021
The Virtual Water Equipment Show is the ideal event for those operating within the Water and Wastewater Industries, showcasing
a wide range of equipment and services that are available from many of the UK's leading manufacturers, suppliers and contractors.
The technical conference and breakout sessions also reflect the show's considerable impact within the UK water industry.
WEX Global 2021
28th - 30th June 2021 - Valencia, Spain
The WEX Global Conference. Sponsored by Idrica is currently due to take place in Valencia in Spain in June 2021. The conference
concentrates on the circular economy and smart solutions to resolve some of the global water industry's issues
Page 18
Conferences, Events,
Seminars & Studies
Conferences, Seminars & Events
2021 Conference Calendar
Due to the current international crisis there has been a large amount of disruption in the conference calendar. A lot of workshops have
moved online at least in the interim and a lot of organisations are using alternative means of getting the knowledge out there such as
webinars popping up at short notice. Do check your regular channels about information and events that are going on. Also do check on
the dates provided here as they are the best at the time of publishing but as normal things are subject to change.

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