WIPAC Monthly - July 2022.pdf

WIPAC MONTHLY
The Monthly Update from Water Industry Process Automation & Control
www.wipac.org.uk Issue 7/2022- July 2022

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.
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
Serious Games: transforming the future across the global water industry........................
Serious games are an under used technique in the water industry and yet their usefulness to explain to customers
a complex situation in an easy to digest manner is ultimately very useful when customer engagement is key. In
this article from a few years ago by Mehdi Khoury we use an example of how Serious Gaming was used to resolve
issues of flooding using serious gaming techniques
12 -15
A systems thinking approach to wastewater network management...............................
The importance of a holistic systems approach has never been more important in the water industry. The root
cause of a problem maybe on one area of the network but at the system holistically can be resolved using a
number of different solutions. In this article we look at the systems-based approach that the water industry must
take when looking for solutions to industry problems.
16 - 17
Better asset management through better data management......................................
If we don't know what we have to manage then how do we actually manage it. This is as important at the system
level as it is at the element level. In this article we look at how, through better data management, we can improve
the performance of our assets
18 - 19
Workshops, conferences & seminars............................................................................
The highlights of the conferences and workshops in the coming months. 20 - 21

From the Editor

Sitting typing this editorial in a flu-like daze make me think laterally and retrospectively about the state of the water
industry and where it is going to have to go moving forwards. It makes me think are we doing the right thing and how
do we balance the engineering need for the best value solution and the environmental need for the best solution. One
can argue that the environmental need has to be included in the best value. However, in practice this rarely happens. This
month the Environment Agency in England & Wales lambasted the wastewater industry which was to be honest a fair
assessment considering pollutions have gone the wrong way and in some areas have gone up. The question was asked as
to whether it has always been this way and we just haven't measured things correctly. This is certainly the case on Storm
Overflows and the increase in monitoring has highlighted the issue. There is bound to be among this number a few false
positives but it is still very difficult reading.
Moving forwards we have even more monitoring to come and in general this number is not always included in the pub-
lished figures that we are starting routinely see each year. Why aren't they published you can ask? The standards for
installation aren't out yet and as such we can't confirm that what is being measured is a true reflection on reality. The
thing with instruments is that you can, if you install them in a way that is not quite right a false picture of reality can be
portrayed. If all of this data is going to be come freely available for people to scrutinise there is a must that the data has
to be right and we are all, unwittingly, being given a false picture of what is really happening.
This is vitally important to resolve right now with the reason being the event duration monitors which are the data source of all the data that we are seeing
actually represent the simplest of measurement techniques. When we move in the next Asset Management Period to more complex monitoring, which is of
course more expensive and more prone to giving us a false reality the delivery of these thousands of monitors is going to take time. The complexity of what
is being asked for is not easy.
This does take an open discussion and this month the registration for one my favourite conferences on the calendar, WWEM (Water, Wastewater & Environ-
mental Monitoring Conference and Exhibition) has opened up its website for people to register for free and join the discussion on important topics such as
monitoring are environment. Where is the best value? What makes up that value and do we have a handle on the technologies that can help us to understand
the state of our riverine environment. I've not forgotten the Citizen Scientists too and I have actually set aside some time for discussions on how we, as an
industry can support their efforts, standardise techniques, fund testing equipment and provide resources so there is more and more scientific robustness so
that we can't just say its a random sample at a random time and its not representative, so we can't just ignore that result. Dare I say in both the water company
testing and the citizen science testing bring in a little bit of analytical quality control that makes that data definitive
The next step is to display it, put things through a scientific method so that the results we can get we can actually use to make the big decisions that the envi-
ronment needs to start to get better and better and better.
Have a good month
Oliver

Registration for WWEM and AQE is now open
Registration for this year's WWEM is open now and people can register by clicking here. At this years WWEM amongst hundreds of suppliers between AQE and
WWEM we have
At this years WWEM we have a number of professional organisations including CIWEM, Institute of Measurement & Control and the Institution of Environmental
Sciences doing a number of activities during the two days including workshops for technicians (specifically TechCIWEM and EngTech) as well as the Institute of
Measurement & Control talking about the development of their measurement competency scheme. Also in the learning zone we have three areas dedicate to
flow measurement, quality measurement and communications doing master-classes for technicians and engineers alike in supplier-led teaching sessions where
attendees can get hands on with instruments and ask the experts questions. The agenda for these rooms is mirrored Day 1 and Day 2 so if there is a session that
clashes on Day 1 you can always go to it the next day.
New for 2022 is the Digital Zone where we have got not only a main conference room doing a number of talks based upon Digital Transformation but we have
also brought in the help of BIM4Water and the SWAN Forum and they are doing separate days on Digital Skills (BIM4Water) and Digital Transformation (SWAN
Forum). We are still speaking to someone about having some Serious Gaming as well.
The Flow Forum is something I have run for the past 8 years at WWEM and is usually attended by the people who want deep conversation around Flow
Measurement (mainly wastewater). This is going to be an update on the current Flow Programme from Water Companies, Environment Agency and supply
chain. This is followed by a real treat (well at least for flow experts) with NEL who run the national flow laboratory talking about wastewater flow and specifically
flow measurement uncertainty.
The Pollution Forum this year (on 13th ) is mainly concentrate on two areas. The first being Section 82 of the Environment Act which is the duty to measure
up and downstream of overflows. I have spoke to Phillip Dunne MP who is keen to present a key note and he will be followed by Helen Wakeham or Richard
Thompson of the Environment Agency followed Alastair Chisolm (Director of Policy at CIWEM). This is the policy section after which we will have the water
companies represented talking about the practicalities of delivering such a large programme. Following this we have a Citizen Science Takeover in the Pollution
Forum led by The River’s Trust basically talking about the work they do and how we can all engage with the work and support good robust science with the
community.
Future Water Association launch call for papers for Networks
November 2022- "Through a different lens"
Bringing together the latest thinking, new ideas, a mix of presenters and a view from those new to the sector – Networks November offers a month of webinars,
face-to-face sessions, water dragons and how to classes! Its year two of the initiative that sets out to challenge thinking on all things pipes & sewers! Exploring
the latest policies, the latest research, the latest technology and latest ideas, the month will be holding up a mirror to what happens now. At the end of the
month we’ll all come together to set out a vision for the future and what are the game changing recommendations! Its all about future!
Call for Papers
Do you have something to share on the following network issues?
• Asset Health
• Customer engagement
• WINEP and DWMP interface
• Pipeline Research
• Stormwater management
• Real time systems
• Customer side leakage
• Future thinking for wastewater networks
Water Dragons
Our next water dragons sessions will take place during
WWEM Event in Telford – this will be face to face – got anything new and clever linked to monitoring and pollution, real time systems?
Networks November – what is coming onto the scene in terms of leakage, pipe networks, sensors, AI systems for sewers, resilience etc?
Enter your ideas: https://www.futurewaterassociation.com/water-dragons/?v=79cba1185463
Page 4
Industry News

H2NOW real-time monitoring on the Chicago River
The platform is providing a guide to water quality by estimating faecal coliform levels every 15 minutes from three spots along the river, through an array of
novel technologies. The resource is available at H2NOWChicago
In addition to upgraded technology, new this year is a QR code that allows residents and river users to get to the platform immediately to check water quality.
The code will be displayed on promotional materials and on signage along the river.
H2NOW, first launched in September 2021, reports on the river like a meteorologist reports on the weather, providing real-time information for kayakers,
walkers, diners and other residents and visitors who want to know about the health of the Chicago River. Current, the Chicago-based catalyst for better, cleaner
water, is leading H2NOW operations with the support of more than 20 partners. The system relies on innovative technologies that have not been previously
deployed in an urban river, and helps connect residents to their environment.
Proteus sensors have been installed in three locations and collect a series of measurements to estimate faecal coliform levels. Data are transmitted and
displayed on the H2NOW portal. “Everyone who lives near or uses the Chicago River has a stake in its health and safety,” said Alaina Harkness, executive director
of Current. “The more information we have about water quality, the more we can each do our part to keep this tremendous resource healthy. ”Since last fall,
Current has upgraded its approach to translating sensor data into real-time water quality assessments using the best available science, and has redesigned the
online gauges to deliver information to visitors and residents in a more usable and readable way.
Sensor equipment was removed last winter and reinstalled in May with additional features that enable H2NOW to provide an even better prediction of bacterial
levels. Proteus sensors are now collecting data on coloured dissolved organic matter, or CDOM, as well as specific conductivity. Those readings are combined
with measures of tryptophan-like fluorescence [TLF], temperature, and turbidity to provide an overall quality estimate.
On the newly designed display gauges, water quality is considered “Good” or safe for contact if estimated faecal coliform levels are below 200 CFU/100mL.
If faecal coliform estimates range between 200 and 1000 CFU/100 mL, gauges display a “Low Caution” reading. Above 1000 CFU/100 mL, a “High Caution”
warning is displayed. The “Good” threshold is based on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Primary Contact Use standard value, indicating that one
is unlikely to get sick if river water is ingested.
Building and launching H2NOW was the result of collaboration among more than 20 partners, including the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater
Chicago, which protects and monitors waterways and oversees wastewater treatment and storm water management for Chicago and 128 suburbs, and the City
of Chicago’s Department of Water Management, which is responsible for delivering drinking water to the city and 125 suburbs and collecting wastewater and
storm water through local sewers for transport to MWRD’s treatment facilities.
“The Chicago River connects our communities,” said MWRD Board of Commissioners President Kari K. Steele. “H2NOW helps us make informed decisions
about how we interact with the river.” “The Chicago Department of Water Management was proud to be a founding member of Current to help identify
and implement innovative technologies, which are improving every year,” said Dr. Andrea Cheng, Commissioner of the Department of Water Management.
“H2NOW is a terrific example of how technology can connect residents to their environment.”
Faecal matter pollutes the Chicago River in two main ways. First, rainwater that falls over 1,834 square miles from Wisconsin to Indiana drains into the
Chicago River, carrying, among other things, droppings from birds and other animals. Second, heavy rains can occasionally overwhelm local sewer systems.
These events can cause harmful combined sewer overflow [CSOs] into the Chicago River. These events are reported by the MWRD and other advocacy groups.
H2NOW augments the CSO alert system by providing more detailed information about river water quality.
Page 5

SES Water smart technology is a first for super-fast leak detection
The Company is the first in the UK industry to roll out intelligent technology
across its entire water distribution network, with the aim of cutting leakage by
15 per cent over the next three years. Water Industry Journal finds out more.
SES Water’s self-learning technology is based on a network of sensors which
relay data on leaks and bursts back to its operational teams minute by minute.
By highlighting issues in near real-time, field staff can get to the source of
the leak even before customers know there’s a problem. Costing £1.1m to
date, the network is part of the Company’s strategy to invest in innovative
technologies and approaches to more than halve leakage by 2045.
SES Asset Data Lead, Jack Nicol, acknowledges that the imminent leak
reduction target is “optimistic but achievable.”
He added: “We are working on several other innovative, exciting projects
that will help us try and deliver the 15 per cent saving alongside traditional
methods where we are still seeing good results. This is just one strategy we
are employing alongside a suite of interventions and strategies to improve our
leakage and network performance and sustainably reduce leakage over the
short, medium and long term.”
Other benefits include a lower risk of pollution incidents and fewer unnecessary site visits, leading to lower carbon emissions. SES Water Head of Asset Strategy,
Daniel Woodworth, said: “This is a game-changing milestone, not just for us and our customers, but the water industry as a whole.
“We already have one of the lowest levels of leakage in the country, but we want and need to do more, and our intelligent network will significantly improve
the way we manage leaks and help reduce the total amount of water lost each day. Not only will it minimise interruptions to supply for our customers, but it will
also help us reduce the amount of water we take from the natural environment.”
Work on the project began mid-2018, but Covid hit just before roll-out, pushing full implementation back to March this year. Jack explained: “The AI software
must learn our data and national lock-downs don’t give it a true sense of reality. It has to learn what is normal to create a good prediction. We didn’t want our
operational staff to have a tool that didn’t work.
“The technology has performed well since roll-out began. This has been down to some great in-house training but also the operational teams have really been
on-board and dedicated to making it work. Yes, it wasn’t in operation for pretty much the whole of 2021 but we were able to test the software thoroughly and
retrospectively look back and see if it did detect leaks and bursts on the network. It gave us a chance to fine-tune the settings so we had it operating as well as
it possibly could be when we trained our colleagues on the system."
“BURSTAlert is now live and running across the whole of the network, our control room is responding in near real time to alarms coming in from the sensors in
the network, and as a company we are reacting faster and smarter to network issues.
“We continue to work with partner Royal Haskoning DHV on small software upgrades after some early feedback from the end users.
“BURSTFind is the next big thing we’re working on. This will not only alert us to a potential leak or burst before a customer calls it in it will localise it and allow
us to dispatch our network inspectors or leakage teams to the right area of a DMA and reduce the leak detection time and in-turn the leak run time.” Trials are
progressing really well and we hope to be implementing this next phase later this year.
Vodafone, Royal HaskoningDHV and Technolog are collaborating on the project. Vodafone supports the system with its Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT)
service for efficient communication, long battery life and lower costs; Technolog sensors measure flow, pressure, transients and water temperature; and Royal
HaskoningDHV provides AI-powered Aquasuite® technology for data analysis to enable near real-time operational decisions.
Jack explained: “Technolog were our existing logger supplier, and the partnerships came about through conversations at various conferences and seminars. We
ran a selection process for RHDHV where we invited companies to present their AI software offering to us and assessed it against our vision for a smart network.
“Implementation started July 2019 with a proof of concept and then mass roll-out began in 2020 switching all sensors across the network to NB-IoT for near
real-time data. Installation of sensors was completed in early 2021 and all sensors were successfully on-boarded to Royal Haskoning DHV’s Aquasuite platform.
“We currently have 725 NB-IoT sensors installed on the network these include ALL district meters, ALL critical points, and 92 additional Monitoring Points across
12 BURSTFind extended trial DMAs.”
Nick Gliddon, of Vodafone UK, said: “SES Water is showing how IoT can be used to achieve meaningful results, quickly”, while Technolog spokesman Luke
Thornton, added: “We have supported SES Water with the supply of multi parameter Cello 4S data loggers and Regulo pressure control devices for many years
and look forward to continuing this collaboration through AMP7, AMP8 and beyond.”
Page 6

Yorkshire Water to install 35,000 Technolog sewer alarms across
Yorkshire to reduce sewer flooding
Yorkshire Water has begun a project to reduce the risk and impact of sewer flooding in homes and the local environment - the water company will be installing
35,000 Technolog customer sewer alarms at properties across Yorkshire+
The move follows a successful pilot project of 5,000 devices in Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and Doncaster, which won the Institute of Water North Region
Innovation award.
Once installed, the customer sewer alarms will monitor the water level within the combined sewer gullies using a pressure sensor which sends an alert remotely
when an increase in level is identified.
The devices use a wireless network to enable Yorkshire Water teams to identifying trends in how the sewers are performing.
This will allow Yorkshire Water teams to quickly analyse, identify and proactively respond to increases in sewer levels which and are often signs that precede
sewage escaping the network onto streets or into people’s homes. Increased levels in gullies can indicate potential blockages or damage within the sewer
network which are restricting flow.
Henry Dixon, business transformation manager at Yorkshire Water, said:
“This project represents a significant investment and forms a key part of our ambition to increase the technology in operation across our network. The devices
will provide vital insight into the performance of the network, allowing our teams to monitor flows and understand network performance remotely.
“Our successful pilot project helped to prevent sewer flooding in homes and gardens, improved our customers’ experience by alerting us to blockages before
they caused a problem and saved time and cost on our Customer Field Services visits by attending proactively to resolve problems before they caused flooding.
“The expansion of the project will ensure we can quickly identify potential problems and mobilise our teams to investigate the network before there is an impact
on our customers and/or the environment across Yorkshire.”
Luke Thornton, business development director at Technolog Group, said:
“We have been working collaboratively with Yorkshire Water for over three years, in the development and fine tuning of this product and service offering.
“This project is testament to Yorkshire Water’s ambition and commitment to significantly reduce internal and external flooding issues for their customers.”
Olea Edge Analytics Announces Water Monitoring Trial Program For
Drought-Stricken Texas Municipalities
Olea Edge Analytics, an innovative edge computing platform for the water utility industry, is offering a risk-free 60-day trial of its solution to cities and counties
affected by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent drought disaster declaration.
Olea is asking municipal leaders to take immediate action as triple-digit temperatures dry up bodies of water and damage crops. With water levels dropping,
utilities with at least 1,000 large meters (2 inches and larger) can benefit from greater visibility into the amount of water in their systems.
“As a Texas company, we’re seeing first-hand the effects of this brutal drought across the state,” said Olea Edge Analytics CEO Dave Mackie. “We want to issue
this as a call to action so that cities and counties can quickly address declining water levels. In a matter of weeks, utilities can identify the most critical problems,
prioritize repairs and prevent the loss of millions of gallons of water.”
On July 8, Abbott issued a drought disaster declaration because “exceptional drought conditions pose a threat of imminent disaster.” The impacted areas include
the cities of Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth and cover 164 of Texas’ 254 counties. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality lists dozens of
public water systems that are limiting water use to avoid shortages.
Olea’s platform focuses on the health of large commercial and industrial water meters, which can lose accuracy by more than 10% per year under normal
conditions. Cities have a responsibility to keep these meters working correctly as they account for 70% or more of a utility’s annual revenue. Through Olea’s AI,
machine learning and edge computing technology, utilities have never-before-seen insights into the health of their largest revenue generators, enabling utilities
to achieve a new level of commercial meter performance and dramatically reduce water loss.
Olea has been working with the City of Atlanta - Department of Watershed Management since 2018. Last year, the partnership expanded to more than 2,000
meters across the Atlanta metro area. In less than a year, the program identified $10M in potential revenue.
Earlier this year, Miami launched a pilot program to deploy Olea’s smart technology to more than 25 large commercial meters throughout Dade County.
Page 7

Advanced water quality monitor installed in the Serpentine
Looking to find ways to keep improving water quality, the managers of the Royal Parks have installed a continuous water quality monitor; an ESNET (Environmental
Sensor NETwork) system from the company Meteor Communications.
The Serpentine is monitored by the Environment Agency which collects samples for bacteriological analysis every week between May and September. However,
the ESNET continuous water quality monitor was installed to improve understanding of the factors affecting water quality.
Covering an area of around 16 hectares, the Serpentine was created in 1730 by the wife of George 2nd, Queen Caroline. Originally fed by the River Westbourne
and Tyburn Brook in the 1730s, the lake's water was later pumped from the River Thames. Today, water is pumped from two boreholes from within Hyde Park.
The water quality monitoring system was installed in February 2022, measuring key parameters including Blue/ Green Algae, Chlorophyll, Temperature,
Conductivity, pH, Turbidity and Dissolved Oxygen. Measurements are taken continuously in real-time with updates every 30 minutes to the MeteorCloud™ web
portal, with instant alerts for any issues that may influence bathing water quality. “The ESNET system will provide essential data for the future management of
the lake,” explains the Royal Parks’ Dr Pawel Szynkarczuk. “We need this empirical data to better understand short- and long-term trends, as well as the factors
affecting water quality. For example, a key advantage of a continuous time-series dataset is the ability to correlate water quality incidents with potential impact
factors such as ambient temperature and heavy rainfall.
“The Environment Agency’s laboratory tests are more focused on bathing safety, whereas the wider variety of parameters monitored by ESNET will provide
greater insights into the factors affecting water quality generally. The ESNET system will therefore allow us to make informed decisions, whilst also enabling us
to measure the impact of any improvement measures.”
Water quality improvement measures currently include litter/debris removal as well as aeration at 24 points around the lake. However, the large population of
wildfowl in Hyde Park is the likely cause of any water pollution; with raised nutrient levels during summer being an area that is carefully monitored. The water
quality challenges presented by the wildfowl are compounded by Park visitors feeding the ducks and geese by throwing food into the water. Raised nutrient
levels during summer are therefore carefully monitored, and an initiative is underway to try to alter visitor behaviour. “We have a campaign entitled ‘Help
Nature Thrive’, which is designed to discourage overfeeding – it’s not good for the birds and it certainly isn’t good for water quality,” explains Assistant Hyde Park
Manager, Ian Nightingale. “In the past, we have had to address raised nutrient levels on two occasions by dosing the water with a modified bentonite clay which
binds with free reactive phosphorus. While this method appears to be effective, it is expensive, so the provision of continuous monitoring will enable us to fully
evaluate the cost/benefits of any future water quality improvement measures.”
The ESNET system has been installed at the Environment Agency’s water sampling point, adjacent to the lake’s bathing area, and the water quality sensors are
built into a compact water quality sonde which is permanently located beneath the water surface. In order to maintain the highest levels of accuracy, the sonde
is routinely swapped out with a pre-calibrated sonde by Meteor Communications.
The entire system runs on very low levels of power, with a small solar panel meeting the power requirement of the entire ESNET system. “This is very important,”
explains Meteor MD Matt Dibbs. “These systems are usually installed in remote locations for customers such as the Environment Agency and utility companies;
frequently these sites have no pre-existing power or communications capability.
“We were recently consulted by the Environment Audit Committee and provided them with a live demonstration; explaining how ESNET systems are monitoring
UK rivers and providing alerts when potential pollution incidents could threaten bathing water quality. We hope that the Serpentine ESNET system will deliver
similar benefits; helping the Park managers to improve the lake’s water quality.”
Page 8

Idrica boosts its growth investing in Cleverpy, a consultancy firm
focusing on digital solutions
The multinational Idrica has taken a new step forward in its growth strategy thanks to its stake in Cleverpy, a start-up specializing in technologies such as machine
learning, artificial vision and georeferenced information systems, which are applied by Idrica in industries such as renewable energy and the integrated water
cycle.
This move strengthens Idrica's position as an expert in digital transformation for the water industry. The operation aims to strengthen its portfolio of solutions
aimed at the digital transformation of the entire water cycle. This is in line with the digital transformation plans initiated by various countries, as well as the
growth objectives of the company itself, which seeks to become a global benchmark under the slogan "Smart Water for a Better World."
The solutions developed by Cleverpy are already part and parcel of the GoAigua platform and enhance Idrica's portfolio in the fields of water supply, sanitation,
drinking water, urban irrigation, agriculture, water resources and reuse, on a global scale.
According to Jaime Barba, CEO of Idrica, this investment came about naturally. “Cleverpy is a company with huge potential, and we were already working with
them on multiple projects involving digital transformation of sanitation networks, water quality modelling and asset management in countries such as Qatar
and the United States."
Meanwhile, Pedro Conesa, CEO of Cleverpy, and co-founder of the company together with Jordi Boix and Jesús Vieco, said that this deal "seeks to consolidate
Cleverpy's growth and increase its capabilities, while providing Idrica with new water management solutions." Conesa also stated that the start-up will maintain
its independent status "to develop solutions aimed at smart cities and industries 4.0."
Global Omnium began its digital transformation process over a decade ago with the extraction and analysis of data from sensors installed in the field, at a time
when this was very uncommon. This led to in-house development of solutions based on technologies such as Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, aimed at driving
management efficiency. GoAigua reflects this development to provide customers with centralized process management.
IoT Cellular Connectivity For Optimizing Water Utilities Management
Digital transformation allows utilities to go from data drought (and actual drought) to a deluge of efficiency, but security is paramount.
Cellular Internet of Things (IoT) devices are an integral part of helping water utilities optimize their operations and lower costs. Using connected technology,
companies can monitor water meters from a distance, remotely manage water supply facilities, and get a clearer picture of wastewater treatment processes.
This reduces the amount of labor required and allows for better crisis preparation.
Currently, the cost of wasted water amounts to $39 billion a year,1 financially burdening countless businesses and systems. Through the use of connected
cellular IoT devices, fresh water and wastewater will be better managed at a lower cost while gathering more useful data than ever.
It’s a double-edged sword when implementing IoT cellular connectivity in water utilities. The benefits are enormous, but the risk remains high — a threat actor
may gain access to the IoT cellular devices for a range of nefarious purposes. For example, once a hacker gains control, data on that IoT cellular device can be
compromised, as well as the entire network itself.
Vulnerable IoT cellular devices may also enable an attack where homes, businesses, schools, and farms may be left without clean running water — or untreated
waste can be released directly into the living water system. Therefore, taking security measures is a necessity when it comes to connected devices.
The main challenge for any critical infrastructure organization is to ensure continuous service, with the goal of mitigating the threat of disruption as much as
possible. Network attacks come in all shapes and sizes, and IoT cellular security systems need to be prepared to fight off these strikes.
Threat actors are seeking to exploit unsecured networks. They may drain batteries on the IoT cellular devices in a malicious act, override passwords and
security, or use the IoT cellular devices as a gateway to steal sensitive information. The protection of IoT cellular devices must focus on strategic planning at
the foundation level. Connectivity has to be implemented in a way that allows the IoT cellular device to be resilient to a network-based attack or breach. Water
utilities can protect themselves from attacks by using a connectivity management platform that can automatically monitor, alert, and detect suspicious activity
within the IoT cellular network or using on-device SIM applets, which have a security program directly on the SIM cards.
Attack preparation needs to occur on the company management level, as well. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities must be assigned before anything ever
occurs, so the organization is prepared to handle these challenges. Most notably, security personnel must ensure all risks are addressed and prepared for. The
top management teams within the water organization must verify that each security risk is analysed, and that each person is assigned a specific role and knows
exactly what must be done in the case of an attack.
When choosing their IoT cellular connectivity and security management platform, water utilities need to make sure it meets all the required standards and
enables them to gain full control over their IoT cellular devices. The right technology ensures function and protection simultaneously. A unified platform lets
companies manage their devices as a group. This provides simultaneous control of millions of devices, saving costs, time, personnel, and other resources,
allowing the facility management team to focus on all their other critical duties. With the right solution, water utilities can continue to leverage smart devices to
improve the efficiency and operation of water services while ensuring security protection against all types of IoT cellular attacks.
The best of both worlds? Combine a connectivity management system that gives full control over its IoT cellular connected devices with a built-in, comprehensive
security solution to ensure ongoing operation.
Page 9

Data Scientists Use New Techniques To Identify Lakes And Reservoirs
Around The World
A University of Minnesota Twin Cities-led team of data scientists has published a first-of-its-kind comprehensive global dataset of the lakes and reservoirs on
Earth showing how they have changed over the last 30+ years.
The data will provide environmental researchers with new information about land and fresh water use as well as how lakes and reservoirs are impacted by
humans and climate change. The research is also a major advancement in machine learning techniques.
A paper highlighting the Reservoir and Lake Surface Area Timeseries (ReaLSAT) dataset was recently published in Scientific Data, a peer-reviewed, open-access
journal published by Nature.
Highlights of the study include:
• The ReaLSAT dataset contains the location and surface area variations of 681,137 lakes and reservoirs larger than 0.1 square kilometers
south of 50 degrees north latitude. The previous most comprehensive database, called HydroLAKES, had identified only 245,420 lakes and
reservoirs for the part of the world and minimum size considered in this study.
• ReaLSAT provides data on the surface area of each body of water for each month from 1984 to 2015. This makes it possible to quantify
changes in lake and reservoir area over time, which is key to understanding how changing climate and land use are altering bodies of fresh
water. The HydroLAKES data contains only a static shape for each water body.
• The ReaLSAT dataset is the culmination of eight years of research. It represents a major milestone in the application of new knowledge-
guided machine learning for use in the environmental sciences. Unlike other existing efforts, this dataset can now be extended nearly
automatically via machine learning and can be quickly replicated for a wide variety of Earth observation data that are becoming available
at increasingly better resolution.
“Aroundtheworld,weareseeinglakesandreservoirschangingrapidlywithseasonalprecipitationpatterns,long-termchangesinclimateandhumanmanagement
decisions,” said Vipin Kumar, the senior author of the study and Regents Professor and William Norris Endowed Chair in the U of M Department of Computer
Science and Engineering. “This new dataset greatly improves the ability of scientists to understand the impact of changing climate and human actions on our
fresh water across the globe.”
Building a global dataset of lakes and reservoirs and how they are changing required a new type of machine learning algorithms that meld knowledge of the
physical dynamics of water bodies with satellite imagery.
“ReaLSAT is a shining example where environmental challenges motivated a new class of knowledge-guided machine learning algorithms that are now being
used in numerous scientific applications,” Kumar said.
Scientists who study the environment agree that ReaLSAT will improve their work.
“The availability and quality of surface fresh water is central to sustainable use of our planet,” said Paul C. Hanson, a Distinguished Research Professor at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology and a co-author of the study. “Because ReaLSAT shows changes in lakes and their boundaries, rather
than just water pixels across the landscape, we can now connect ecosystem process about water quality with hundreds of thousands of lakes around the world.”
The research was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation and NASA. Access to computing facilities was provided by the University of Minnesota
Supercomputing Institute.
Meteor wins Hydrometry Framework contract
Meteor Communications, the manufacturer of remote environmental monitoring systems,
hasbeenawardedaframeworkcontractbytheCoalAuthoritytosupplyarangeofhydrometric
services, dataloggers and sensors to enable the continuous monitoring of mine water.
Meteor Communications successfully bid for Lot 3 of the Hydrometry Framework, which is
comprised of 7 lots and will run for four years with an estimated total budget of £400,000.
“Meteor are delighted to have been selected by the Coal Authority for this framework
contract,” explains Meteor’s MD Matt Dibbs. “Our systems and services are utilised across
the UK by the Environment Agency, Water Utilities and Consultants and it’s great to be able
to bring our expertise to the Coal Authority.”
The Coal Authority seeks to enhance the future prospects for people and the environment
in mining areas, and to contribute to the delivery of the UK Government’s industrial strategy
and the environmental, social and economic priorities of the UK, Scottish and Welsh
Governments. This includes managing the effects of past coal mining and dealing with mine
water pollution and other mining legacy issues.
Page 10

WEX Global Brought Together Water And Energy Experts From Over
40 Countries
After a two-years hiatus caused by the pandemic, WEX Global was held in person
again, becoming a meeting point for international experts, who came together to
share their experiences and know-how on water technology and management.
The event, entitled "Unlocking the power of the smart circular economy," brought
together over 200 specialists from around the world to learn first-hand about best
practices in water management and sustainability.
Over three days, and with Idrica and Global Omnium co-hosting the event, Valencia
(Spain) was the location chosen to hold this vitally important meeting, given
the current economic and social situation. As Chema Nebot, Idrica's Business
Development Director, pointed out: "We live in a highly complex environment in
which it is essential to find ways to work together. And WEX is the perfect forum
for this, as it means we can openly share points of view and exchange ideas on the
numerous challenges facing our sector."
After the enforced hiatus caused by the pandemic, numbers attending WEX Global this year were up on previous events, with figures that make it one of the
most important international events in the sector in its own right: over 200 delegates, 111 speakers, and 36 events scheduled over three days, for participants
to learn first-hand how to reduce the water footprint and manage a limited resource such as water more efficiently. In the words of Pablo Calabuig, CEO of
GoAigua US, "in a circular economy, water is a finite resource and must be returned to the ecosystem as it is, as a source of life."
Undoubtedly, one of the key aspects of the forum was digital transformation, one of the backbones of the discussions held at WEX. According to Dionisio García
Comín, CEO of Global Omnium, digital transformation is a "fundamental tool to improve water management and combat climate change." However, García
Comín also pointed out the importance of "showing consumers, both governments and end users, the value of these solutions which bring greater control,
together with information on consumption and possible leaks, thus helping to tackle climate change."
The conference attendees also visited the facilities where Global Omnium's digital twin is located. Pilar Conejos, Idrica's Digital Twin Manager, pointed out that,
thanks to the digital twin, "different use cases can be drawn up, such as reducing energy consumption and its related costs. We can calculate the hours required
to optimize these costs and make water management more efficient.”
Though digital transformation was not the only subject on the agenda. Marketing, climate change, innovation, desalination, water reuse and biotechnology
were just a few of the other topics discussed in the various panels held during the forum. Mark Barker, CEO of WEX, highlighted “the interest of participants in
the one-to-one meetings to discuss avenues for cooperation, which is one of the central aspects of the event”. The conference culminated in a gala dinner and
the presentation of the WEX Global 2022 awards, held in the stunning setting of Valencia's Oceanogràfic aquarium.
TasWater Partners With TaKaDu To Address Network Inefficiencies
TaKaDu Central Event Management (CEM) analytics software designed to identify hidden leaks and other types of incidents within the water network is the
latest weapon in TasWater’s arsenal to reduce network losses and increase efficiency and customer service.
TasWater has partnered with TaKaDu, a global leader in smart analytics software package that monitors the water network 24/7, and has proven to be successful
in water businesses across 15 countries, including many in Australia.
Using statistical algorithms and machine learning to detect anomalies, analyse multiple types of real time data and apply smart predictions, TaKaDu will allow
TasWater to proactively find leaks and bursts to reduce water loss. TaKaDu’s CEM will also help to detect and manage many types of network events which will
improve customer service, reduce repair times, and reduce energy costs.
Successful implementation of the TaKaDu CEM software at TasWater over the next few years will provide detection and full life-cycle management of network
events and incidents over the entire TasWater network, a high-level view of metered areas and network zones, including water loss information, and integration
with other modules and solutions.
TasWater’s CEO, George Theo commented that the CEM solution would provide better visibility and will allow the operational teams to be proactive in handling
incidents in the network. “TaKaDu analyses the data collected almost on a real time basis and will enable us to improve our customer service and reduce water
loss,” Mr Theo said. “This unique event management tool will enable TasWater to progress in its digital journey, and to be on par with some of the better
performing utilities in the world. We will see benefits through the early detection of problems when they’re still small, leading to earlier repair times, lower
costs and more efficient utilisation of our teams,” he said.
TaKaDu Founder & CEO Amir Peleg said the company was excited to be working with TasWater and is looking forward to a great long-term partnership. “TaKaDu
is excited to partner with TasWater in its digital journey, leveraging on data, smart meters and sophisticated analytics, in order to bring higher level of visibility to
the operational teams. Being present in the Australian market for a decade, we can see the huge impact of our CEM on customer service, operational efficiency
and reduced water loss.”
Page 11

Article:
Serious Games: transforming the
future across the global water sector
Fyodor Dostoevsky used to say that the degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. Something a lot more prosaic could be said about
civilization: its progress can also be measured by looking at its sewers. The rise of the Roman Empire would certainly not have been the same without the ability
to sustain great urban centres where the occurrence of diseases and epidemics could only be controlled by installing a system that isolated waste from sources
of drinkable water. Similarly, contemporary issues like climate change will be significantly influenced by how efficient and how environmentally harmful we are
at disposing of all the wastes we create.
Why it is now the right time to look at Serious Games.
As a mere computer scientist developing visualisation and decision support systems, the fact that so many fundamental societal challenges are somehow linked
to the way we store, carry and treat water (and wastewater) was news to me. When you combine that simple observation with a handful of interesting facts
about how we can change human behaviour, and some recent technological breakthroughs, things start to click together and a new picture begins to emerge
on how the water industry can tackle the problem of customer engagement more efficiently than ever before.
The first idea is simply that people learn better by doing. Given the choice of reading page after page of a long report or alternatively practicing how to operate
a machine by doing simulated runs, the latter will always win.
The second idea, drawn from the Socratic principles of early Greek philosophy, is that the best way to make people behave in a rational way, is to make them
question their own preconceptions and to enable them to arrive at the correct conclusion using their own logic. You can solve 95 % of a problem with an
engineering or a scientific solution, but often, the last 5% of it is about how to convince people to make use of your solution which will ultimately decide if the
whole exercise was a success or not.
The third idea, is that technology has come so far that it is now easy and cheap to connect different participants online via a web browser, ask them to poke a
computer model together, and enable them to interact with it in a way which significantly enhances the knowledge base of the individual or the group. What
would have taken a team of engineers several months to build a few years ago, now simply requires a single programmer and a couple of weeks of work.
These three ideas form the basis of a new form of engagement: Serious Games. These are games designed for other purposes than mere entertainment and
although they can take the form of simple and enjoyable activities, they can as well become challenging and complex utilitarian tasks akin to military warfare
exercises that can stretch over weeks. In fact, as a training tool for engineering and policy makers, Serious Games could provide novel and efficient ways to
teach team members to optimise complex multi optimal problems whilst having to deal with their own conflicting priorities and a general lack of resources.
As a customer engagement tool, the proven ability of Serious Games to raise awareness, facilitate dialogue and train for crisis response is infinitely superior to
standard survey practices.
The Millbrook case study
One windy evening in September 2016, in the small village
of Millbrook in Cornwall, UK, a workshop was taking place in
the scout hall. The village had lately been at the centre of a
series of large pluvial flood events that lead to catastrophic
and repeated damages to many homes and businesses. The
workshop organised by the West country Rivers Trust was
intending to present causes to the Millbrook flood events as
mostly pluvial, and to emphasize land use and natural flood
management measures as potential solutions as recommended
by hydrology reports. The weary residents, unconvinced, ended
up hardening their initial views on what should be done. The
Water operator was surely to blame for not sorting out the
reservoir in the village and the drainage infrastructure. In
typically understated British fashion, cups of tea were drunk,
unshakably polite words were exchanged but nevertheless the
underlying mood was electric and tense. The workshop was
going nowhere and there was no satisfying outcome in view for
the different stakeholders... Something different needed to be
done. To resolve the problem, some specialist researchers from
the University of Exeter were engaged to join the trust and a
Serious Game was created a few months later.
Experimental results showed that the game had both an informative and a transformative effect on the participants. Not only did the game improve the
A visualisation from the Millbrook “game”
Page 12

“players” understanding of the problem, it also led them to use inductive reasoning from data produced by the game, to correctly confirm or reject hypotheses
and resulted in more than 70% of the participants revising their initial assumptions about what they thought was the correct solution to the Millbrook problem.
Surprisingly, considering that we only had two residents from the Millbrook community actually playing the game amongst the participants, there nonetheless
was a significant impact on the ground. These two residents did communicate with other local stakeholders and together have initiated the formation of an
ongoing natural flood management partnership for action in Millbrook. The “Water” publication resulting from that work [1] concluded “the West country
Rivers Trust have stated that the Serious Game has helped to strengthen the relationship between West country Rivers Trust and Millbrook residents, parish
councillors, academic researchers, and local experts. They also added that this game will be a valuable tool, enabling them to communicate natural flood
management concepts to a wide range of individuals across the south west of England. They concluded, that the combined effect of the aforementioned
benefits has increased the likelihood that natural flood management measures will be implemented in the Millbrook catchment area.”
How to do it
So if Serious Games are that good, what prevents the industry from using them?
Well, nothing really, beside the fact that there are a relatively new and untested practice. The technology is ready, the need is there, and the resources available
are more than sufficient to implement it. If you are interested in adding Serious Games to your arsenal of communication and marketing techniques, here is a
three steps mini-guide on how to do it…
Step 1 - don’t waste your time: find the right people.
Sadly, the field of serious gaming is presently overtaken with lengthy reports about game design and very little real-world output. What you want is to find
someone that can give a real return on your investment.
The two criteria to look for are the following:
• The ability to produce an actual game (as in either online or as standalone software) and real experience coding applications.
• The ability to measure the cognitive/behavioural change induced by playing the game. It is important to know how to use basic statistics
to be able to analyse if playing the game has changed users understanding of a problem or not. If you can’t prove that playing the game
produced a change in the players, then you have effectively wasted your time and money.
Usually, you will either find somebody really good at programming but not so good at the evaluation, or conversely, somebody really good at psychology and
marketing but not experienced at programming. People that have real experience of doing both are still a rarity, but it is also possible to create teams of two
with these respective specialities and to get them to do the job together.
Step 2- think about why you need a Serious Game before you start making it.
New tech is great, but you can sometimes do whatever you need to do it as well with a bit of common sense, pen and paper, and some already existing assets.
Serious gaming will only be better than a series of workshops, if you want to reach tens of thousands of people online at minimum cost and you want them to
understand complex problems that cannot be captured in a few power point slides.
For example, flood prevention in an urban–rural environment requires both the management of limited resources and the involvement of multiple stakeholders
with different perspectives such as residents, farmers, business owners, utilities companies and policy makers. Such a complex problem would fit the bill for a
Serious Game. On the other hand, creating a serious game just to try to persuade people to use less water at home would be a bit of a technological overkill as
there are many other simpler ways to change customer behaviour.
Another relevant example could be that you want customers to understand what dilemma you are facing as an operator and you want them to discover what
are the most critical services that could be improved with limited resources. You would then like them to suggest in the most rational manner how to prioritise
these services. A serious game would be a really good way to do it.
Step 3- once you make a Serious Game, reuse and improve it !
The Serious Game will never be perfect at first. You will need people to play it several times and give you feedback until you have a better tool. But once you
have refined the tool, you can then reuse it for other similar problems at minimal cost.
Conclusion
As Benjamin Franklin said: “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water”. With the looming environmental crisis, it is likely that getting clean water to
everyone cheaply and abundantly will become more and more problematic. In fact, it will become very difficult unless we involve the help and support of
everybody including members of the public. Signs of these trying times are already visible in the tense way the regulator is starting to act towards service
providers. Ofwat has just told Thames Water to return £100 million to customers as a result of its poor performance on customer satisfaction. Staying ahead of
the curve with public engagement will become vital for operators that want to survive in the context of climate change and the ensuing blame game resulting
from the predictable social and political effects of resources scarcity.
Having implemented Serious Games for the optimisation of water distributions systems, for flood prevention, and for policy making in the context of climate
Page 13

change, I have come to appreciate their huge potential for training and public engagement. In fact, it is probably one of the most potent tools to connect complex
technical problems to people if setup properly. And that’s the thing. If making a game can be challenging, making a Serious Game is even harder. You need to add
technical modelling, training capability, and above all you must to be able to measure the cognitive effect on the participants.
As with any investment make sure you get the best advice from somebody with some experience in the domain before deciding to invest some of your hard-
earned money. Be clear about your business case for building Serious Games for customer engagement or professional training. Beyond that, let it be known,
that the University of Exeter is at the forefront of the research on Serious Gaming applied to the domain of Water, and we would be delighted to collaborate
with members of the industry.
If you are interested in improving training and communication, maximising customer satisfaction, and multiplying business opportunities through serious gaming,
then email me at mehdi.khoury@gmail.com and I will be happy to help you to get to grips with this incredible tool. You can also come and play with us and
leading experts in the world of water from more than 45 different countries at the WEX Global summit in Valencia from the 2nd – 4th March 2020 which is co-
hosted by GoAigua and Global Omnium. Full details can be found at www.wex-global.com or email info@wex-global.com. We look forward to meeting you there.
References
[1] Khoury, M., Gibson, M.J., Savic, D. et al. (2018) A serious game designed to explore and understand the complexities of flood mitigation options in Urban-Rural
Catchments. Water , 10 (12). 1885. ISSN 2073-4441
About the Author
Mehdi Khoury is a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Water Systems at the University of Exeter. His main area of expertise is
SeriousGamesandinteractivevisualisations,aswellasmachinelearning(classifiersusinghybridtechniquessuchasFuzzyGaussian
Inference, evolutionary algorithms, and deep learning). As a computer scientist, Dr Khoury’s research interests are in serious
games applied to multi-disciplinary problems, and complex systems visualisation and optimisation. The latest research activities
are focused on the development of a serious game modelling consequences of climate change on the nexus of interdependencies
formed by water, food, land, energy and climate.
Ovivo acquires Wastech Controls & Engineering
Ovivo, a global provider of water and wastewater treatment equipment, technology and systems, has acquired Wastech Controls & Engineering, LLC (“Wastech”).
Founded in 1987 by Mr. Paul Nicolas and located in Chatsworth, California, Wastech has become a nationally recognized process system integrator, offering
complete facility equipment design and manufacturing, after-sale support and automation solutions in the areas of chemical handling, water and wastewater
treatment. With over 1,500 installed systems, Wastech has specialized in turn-key packaged systems for industrial wastewater treatment applications for
numerous industrial markets, including biotech, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, microelectronics and metal.
The integration of Wastech will enhance Ovivo’s systems offering in the US electronics market, as well as create cross-selling opportunities in other markets
through Wastech’s well established client base. As part of Ovivo, Wastech will operate under its own brand name and will continue be led by Mr. Paul Nicolas
as President and Mr. Serge Saatejian as Vice President.
“Wastech’s recognized line of products, engineering excellence, diversified client base and strong entrepreneurial history will fit very well under Ovivo. One of
our key long-term objectives is to grow our presence in industrial water and wastewater markets in North America and Wastech is a great addition towards this
strategic goal. We intend to leverage Wastech’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities and its customer relations in growing markets such as biopharma
and food & beverage. We will provide Wastech with access to our technologies, international platform and resources to accelerate its growth as part of Ovivo,’’
said Marc Barbeau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ovivo.
“As founder and proud team member of Wastech, it was crucial for me to find the next best owner for the company and Ovivo’s unique approach and
entrepreneurial culture were a perfect fit for Wastech in order to pursue its legacy and support its growth in the future. I am very proud of the strong reputation
we have built at Wastech over the years as a reliable wastewater solutions provider to our customers and I am delighted to continue this journey as part of the
Ovivo family for the next chapter in the history of the company,’’ says Paul Nicolas, founder, former owner and President of Wastech.
Page 14

Article:
A Systems Thinking approach to
wastewater network management
If the water and wastewater industry is to improve resilience and meet the expectations of customers and regulators, the traditional reactive approach to
operational asset management must evolve.
For United Utilities’ wastewater operation this means introducing a System Thinking approach to its asset base. There are three key elements, or production
lines, within the wastewater operation:
• Wastewater network (collection, transportation and delivery)
• Wastewater process (treatment)
• Bio-resources (production and delivery to the environment).
• The wastewater network collects effluent from customers’ properties, transports it through a series of assets (sewers and pumping stations)
and delivers it to the treatment works as efficiently as possible.
Over the past two years, in the Preston area, United Utilities has been developing and trialling a new approach to managing its wastewater network.
The Wastewater Network Management Project is looking at how the holistic drainage system can be adjusted in order to improve service and efficiency. The
objectives of the project are straightforward. It aims to create a comprehensive understanding of the asset base so that it can be managed proactively and
remotely in order to prevent any adverse impact to customers or the environment.
The starting point of the project is to create a complete understanding of the network production line and how it delivers its service to customers, as part of the
overall wastewater system. To make that possible the decision was taken to move away from a network plan based on local authority boundaries and instead
take a more holistic, integrated view of the network and how the asset base connects together.
To achieve this System Thinking approach to its wastewater network United Utilities has developed a five step methodology and tool kit:
Step 1 – Understand the asset base including full risk assessments.
Step 2 – Analyse area information e.g. customers served, traders, development, watercourse interactions etc.
Step 3 – Establish the connectivity through to the treatment works and appreciate the interaction with external components e.g. other
drainage systems. Determine whether United Utilities’ focus areas are similar to external stakeholder focus areas e.g. The Environment
Agency or Local Authority as this will identify potential partnership opportunities.
Step 4 – Increase the asset monitoring capability to enable system monitoring and control including using rainfall predictions to assess the
potential impact to asset performance.
Step 5 – Evolve to using Artificial Intelligence to run the system.
This five-step methodology enables the wastewater network team to understand the asset base, how it connects together and its historic performance so it can
plan for the future.
It also allows United Utilities to develop its situational awareness capability so that it can understand the variable factors which the system is under at any one
time such as weather, what customers flush, interaction with watercourses and third party assets.
The pilot project in Preston has applied the methodology and toolkit to all the assets upstream of, and connected to, Clifton Marsh wastewater treatment works
which collect and deliver sewage from properties within the drainage area to the works.
The assets within that boundary were validated and any data gaps logged. A risk assessment was also carried out for all the assets to determine the proportionate
risk within the area for flooding, customer complaints, and compliance.
Operational or maintenance practices were reviewed to reduce that risk where possible or identify if investment was needed. All the data was analysed to
identify changes to the network that signalled a potential incident was about to occur and alert a user to make a proactive intervention.
The project has created a series of anticipated system signatures under a range of operational conditions so the actual system signature can be compared with
the anticipated system signature in real time. Any variance in signature can then be a potential indicator of system deterioration. This early warning means that
the company can carry out investigations to rectify problems before they have any adverse customer impact.
This solution uses asset signal data (monitoring points) which measures the signature of assets and is used to create business rules. Alerts are used to ensure
that incidents are appropriately prioritised and dealt with in all instances, including preventative measures taken before an incident actually occurs and reactive
responses to measures taken afterwards.
The visualisation system provides situational awareness capability, pulling together a vast amount of wastewater network system datasets from multiple
corporate and external data sources to aid with decision making. These include:
Understanding the impact of rainfall
The collection of rainfall and surface water run-off is a critical input into the wastewater network production line. Despite limited options to control this at source,
there are a number of ways it can be monitored and analysed to determine the most appropriate control mechanism to better manage it within the network.
The Wastewater Network Management Project is working to better understand this input by installing rain gauges across the region coupled with MET Office
Page 16

data, analysing the weather patterns and developing a storm classification index based on historic storm data and its impact on the network in those areas.
This should allow the company to understand how rainfall is going to impact flows into the network and its effect and, where possible, to mitigate the predicted
impact. It also allows the deployment of resources in a more planned way to manage predicted storm events and alert customers to potential flooding so they
can take appropriate action.
Managing domestic and trade effluent discharges
The collection of wastewater is another critical input impacting on the flows in the network. There are a number of projects and initiatives aimed at educating
customers to improve the quality of wastewater entering the network in order to reduce the risk of blockage and other incidents. United Utilities’ ‘Think before
you flush’ and ‘Let your river run’ campaigns promote its message that only the three ‘P’s should be flushed – pee, poo and (toilet) paper.
Understanding how the network is performing
A project called Dynamic Network Management (DNM) is installing monitoring technology within the network to understand when something is about to go
wrong so an intervention can be made to rectify the issue before it impacts customers. It also allows the company to understand how a failing asset could impact
the network in order to prioritise the necessary interventions or investment.
Understanding external factors
There are a number of external factors that impact the wastewater network including external stakeholder assets, new building developments, rising river levels
and tree root invasion.
Controlling the flows in the network to optimise performance
Understanding the capacity and flows within the network provides the opportunity to manage the transportation of wastewater through the production line in
the optimum way. This means United Utilities is able to:
Maximise and control the use of storage space in the network to reduce pollution and flooding incidents
Ensure storage capacity is available to cope with increased flows of predicted rainfall
Install automated flushing systems to use the flows to cleanse the network in problem areas
Move towards an ‘on demand’ planned cleansing programme by using appropriate monitoring to inform when intervention is required
Deploy variable consenting on sewer overflows to protect customers from flooding and minimise environmental impact by spilling at the right times
During the Preston pilot, for example, flows were held back within the network for 36 hours to allow for maintenance to occur within the works boundary
without detriment to performance.
Working in an integrated way across wastewater services
At the end of the production line, the delivery of wastewater becomes an input to the wastewater process production line. An integrated approach is therefore
essential. This means controlling the network so that it delivers the right quality and volume of wastewater product to the treatment works.
Improving understanding and control of discharges to rivers and seas
The discharge of wastewater through surface water outfalls and sewer overflows is another delivery point from the network.
This project is working to improve the monitoring and control of these outputs to ensure the environmental impact is reduced and complies with the appropriate
regulations and directives.
Results
The Preston pilot has had excellent results so far including an 80 per cent reduction in sewer blockages and a 70 per cent improvement in customer service.
The overall aim of the project is to meet the company’s regulatory obligations to efficiently and effectively ensure we comply with our targets to reduce sewer
flooding over the next five years.
United Utilities is now planning to roll out the toolkit, methodology and new way of working regionally to its wastewater network teams over the next 12 months
and has identified 41 key areas to be targeted first.
It has also recently completed a major restructuring of its wastewater network team so that it is more proactively rather than reactively focussed and has been
fully trained in the new methodology and toolkit.
Emma McCabe, United Utilities’ drainage area manager and wastewater network management senior business lead, commented: “The Wastewater Network
Management Project is truly innovative in that for the first time we are using historical and current data to predict future performance so that we can manage
the network as effectively and efficiently as possible.
“It has developed a methodology and tool kit which includes remote monitoring of our network and this approach provides a foundation for our people to
understand our wastewater network system, increase our situational awareness capability and proactively, rather than reactively, manage the network.
“It means that we can prevent problems before customers are affected by them and can provide an even better service than we did before.
“This project has also highlighted how using system signatures and advanced analytics to identify proactive interventions provides significant benefits in terms
of cost and reduction in customer disruption.”
Page 17

Article:
Better Asset Maintenance Through
Better Data Management
The more a water utility knows about its current operations, the better equipped it can be to make more informed decisions about upcoming maintenance and
capital replacement programs. Here are several key approaches to identifying cost-effective ways to make merging historical asset data and current operational
data as the next step toward building a stronger, more resilient utility.
Today’s Knowledge Creates Tomorrow’s Advantages
Every water and wastewater system is a dynamic, living system with risks, consequences, and probabilities for failure that are constantly changing. To keep any
such system functional and efficient, it is important to have a good asset management plan, a good picture of asset health, and priorities for which aspects of
the plant to maintain or schedule for replacement (Figure 1).
At the most basic level, an asset management plan should help decision-makers answer four basic questions:
• What assets do you have?
• What are you doing with them?
• What is the current state of the operation?
• Do you have enough money to fund its future?
Using an asset management tool tailored to water-industry applications
can simplify the process of proactively identifying problems and
prioritizing maintenance schedules in line with budget and risk priorities.
In fact, some states already require asset management plans for water
and wastewater utilities. Even where asset management plans are not
yet mandated, however, water and wastewater utility managers should
consider the benefits as outlined in this best practices guide and this
handbook for small water systems available from the U.S. EPA.
Matching Tools To Maintenance Decision-Making Needs
Whatever the size of a utility or the age of its equipment, consider a
variety of tools that can work together to address the many aspects of
infrastructure, labour, and financial performance needed to satisfy a
utility’s most pressing needs:
• Documenting current operating costs and total lifecycle costs
as part of establishing maintenance budgets and priorities.
Figure 1. The ability to track and review assets by multiple criteria — in overview and detail reports — positions a water utility for more timely and cost-efficient response to planned and
unplanned maintenance issues
Figure 2. The ability to track field personnel and their maintenance activities, as well as infra-
structure inventories and operating status, allows for more complete accountability of system
and budget status.
Page 18

• Monitoring equipment performance, service lifecycle, and operating efficiency on a daily basis.
• Improving the ability to determine both the probability and the consequences of failure as equipment ages.
• Managing ongoing maintenance personnel activities in the field (Figure 2).
Choose asset management solutions that can provide detailed oversight of water and wastewater infrastructure the way supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) systems provide oversight of network and plant processes. They should be able to support more accurate and informed decisions by incorporating asset
history and current status into maintenance planning, repair scheduling/record keeping, field-crew management, and capital planning. Also, as an extension,
data analytics software that will trigger system alerts can further improve opportunities to progress beyond strictly reactive maintenance work.
With that in mind, look for asset management software capable of working with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and with
complementary modules that enhance its convenience and flexibility (Figure 3)
• Asset planning capabilities can help to prioritize
maintenance tasks against available capital
budgets and to execute them in phases that fit
the available cash flow.
• Mobile asset management can extend the
power of decision-making data to the field
via smartphones, tablets, or computers that
sync with the latest information whenever
connectivity is available. Such capability lets
both managers and labourers have access to
the same information for empowering timely
decision-making, issuing work orders, updating
project status, and more.
• Onlineassetdataaccessandsharingcanprovide
tiered access to data so that any designated
individual — employee, engineer, or contractor
— can have the exact level of data they need to
do their job via a web-based portal.
Because the link between operations and maintenance is a 24/7 relationship, also look for asset management solutions that can relate to other aspects of
utility operations, piping, and pumping systems. For example, recognize how water modelling and management software can aid in cost-effective engineering
decisions and optimal capital planning for maintenance-related functions. Those can include distribution network modelling, pump and valve optimization, leak
detection and reduction, pressure-zone management, and more.
Consider, too, how live hydraulic models built on real-time data from SCADA systems can provide up-to-date information for more timely and cost-effective
decision-making. This case study shows how one water district was able to generate live pump curves to pinpoint and remedy inefficient performance in a pair
of pumps used intermittently at one of the district’s pumping stations.
What Can You Expect From An Asset Management Plan?
Complementing water infrastructure data analytics solutions with an asset management process capable of determining both the probability and the
consequences of failure will make it easier to prioritize capital maintenance planning and minimize risk. Here are just some of the ways that those combined
capabilities are helping utilities address pressing operational issues more consistently:
• Using live modelling to predict and identify abnormal events such as pipe bursts or pump failures can promote quicker response from field
maintenance crews.
• Improving response time by identifying emerging problems and maintenance issues in the context of historical plant experience.
• Managing repair incidents as they occur — including generating work orders and modelling “what if” repair scenarios — helps to streamline
solutions and minimize negative impacts on the system.
• Staying on top of optimum water storage tank turnover times protects water quality, as outlined in this EPA guideline.
• Scheduling normal pumping operations based on analytic models of demand and real-time pressure readings enables water distribution
systems to run on a more efficient schedule.
Leverage Better Outcomes Through Better Maintenance Oversight
Download these white papers on Managing Water Loss In Four Easy Steps and Top 3 Water System Inefficiencies You Can Address Today With Operational
Analytics to gain insights on multiple factors relating to operation and maintenance efficiencies. Learn how to use real-time data capture for quicker maintenance
response, to identify key performance indicators (KPIs) related to pipeline breaks and non-revenue water loss, and to leverage pump performance insights for
more efficient pumping operations.
Figure 3. Asset management software that can easily incorporate external data — such as CCTV inspections and
CMMS work orders — brings all accountability into one system for better management tracking and decision-making.
Page 19

Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring
Telford, UK
12th - 13th October 2022
The WWEM Conference & Exhibition is returning as a physical conference & exhibition in 2022 and is bigger and better than before
with the return of the Flow Forum, a new Pollution Forum, a Learning & Development Zone and this year a Digital Zone. All available
to everyone for absolutely free.
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
28th September - Instrumentation & Asset Management - London
30th November - Sensor Driver AI for the Water Industry - Sandy Park, Exeter
IWA Digital Water Summit
Bilbao, Spain
29th November - 2nd December 2022
The long awaited Digital Summit the premium event of the IWA Digital Water Programme is due to take place in Bilbao at the end
of November 2022. Four days of discussion about the Digital Transformation of the Water Industry....what is not to love.
IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition
Copenhagen, Denmark
11th -15th September 2022
The World Water Congress & Exhibition is one of the biggest conferences and exhibitions in the water industry and contains a
wealth of knowledge and events for visitors to take part in. There will of course be a heavy presence this year of all things Digital
with a highlight of a Digital Plenary session which is not to be missed.
Future Water Association - Network November 2022
Bringing together the latest thinking, new ideas, a mix of presenters and a view from those new to the sector – Networks November
offers a month of webinars, face-to-face sessions, water dragons and how to classes!
Its year two of the initiative that sets out to challenge thinking on all things pipes & sewers! Exploring the latest policies, the latest
research, the latest technology and latest ideas, the month will be holding up a mirror to what happens now.
Page 20
Conferences, Events,
Seminars & Studies
Conferences, Seminars & Events
2022 Conference Calendar

WIPAC Monthly - July 2022.pdf

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