WIPAC Monthly - August 2023.pdf

WIPAC MONTHLY
The Monthly Update from Water Industry Process Automation & Control
www.wipac.org.uk Issue 8/2023- August 2023

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 - 14
Advantages of laser scanning submerged tanks............................................................
In this article by GDI we look at the spectacular work that is being done in asset management in capturing in minute detail a whole
plethora of assets and how this can be used to vastly improve the asset management and engineering of the water industry's
structures.
15 - 16
When is a spill not a spill..............................................................................................
In this article by WIPAC Editor, Oliver Grievson, we look at the short but important history of event duration monitors across England
& Wales and see how the 300,000 spills that are reported each year isn't necessarily the full story and how we should be much more
cautious in the way that we look at the data
17 - 18
Brazil's largest 3D Digital Sanitation Map......................................................................
In this case study we look at Brazil's largest 3D Digital Sanitation Map that was produced by Aegea and covers a staggering 489
municipalities across the country
19 - 20
Workshops, conferences & seminars............................................................................
The highlights of the conferences and workshops in the coming months.
21 - 22

From the Editor

How do we garner the true picture of the state of the industry? Do we rely on the data? In an article in this month's
edition I call into question the validity of the data that is shared with the public around event duration monitors. Why?
well the rhetoric that is being spouted to the public is absolutely based upon the wrong data from instruments that are
in places fundamentally flawed in their measurement by being installed poorly. The impact of this is that the data that is
being used to beat the industry around its proverbial head is misconstruing the situation. Data in its essence can be used
to demonstrate or misconstrue a situation depending upon from which mouthpiece it is being spouted from.
An example of this is the anti-climate change movement and the fallacy that the race to net zero is a race of fools. It is very
easy to look at long-term data and show that the earth has warmed and cooled over the millennia and actually what is all
the fuss about. In reality though it is not the fact that it has changed but the rate of change. This is certainly what I was
taught about climate change over 30 years ago. So, what contribution from the water industry? More and more I am seeing
some great work around monitoring and control being used especially around nitrous oxide which is a potent greenhouse
gas that the wastewater industry must bring under control. The work was started over a decade ago by the Danish and in
particular Unisense, and the state of the art is moving ever forward.
However, how do we bring all of these control strategies under one roof or more accurately in one activated sludge plant. We have what could be construed
as the competing demands of water compliance, energy (off-set carbon compliance through power stations) and direct air compliance through the emission
of greenhouse gases. It reminds me very much of the original laws in England & Wales which was used to form what is now the Environment Agency. That law
was in fact the Environmental Act 1995 and required a look at the environment from holistic point of view balancing the needs of air, land and water. We are
almost thirty years later and I would struggle to say that we have managed to achieve this in all that time. Coming back to the wastewater treatment plant
though and competing demands the control in the future lends itself very much to multi-variate process control which was something that was being talked
about in the water industry over 15 years ago and I think was before its time. The company that was delivering the solution in the UK has long since been
merged into a larger company but maybe just maybe its time to dust off the algorithms that were used then and see if we can adapt them into the modern
water industry. In order to meet the Net Zero ask that most (if not all) of the water companies committed to achieving (at least operationally) in the next seven
years the industry is going to need to do something.
There is of course the potential, I visited the University of Exeter this month as it is somewhere that I have had a good connection with over the years despite
never actually studying there. As I sat in some very comfortable seats (they weren't that comfortable when I was at University, either time) I pondered at the
pioneering spirits that were doing research that is still relevant now as it was when its was originally being developed 25 years ago. I then pondered that more
and more that research isn't being done with the water companies where it is really needed and wanted to ask (but didn't quite have the courage to do so)as
to why that was. Its something that I certainly intend to start rectifying....Watch this space.
Have a good month,
Oliver

A ground-breaking new technique for measuring emissions from waste water treatment plants (WWTW) is being deployed in Scotland for the first time.
The infra-red tech can pinpoint tiny molecules of emissions from more than two kilometres away, giving experts a detailed read-out of greenhouse gases to allow
them to eliminate them more effectively. Waste water treatment accounts for most of Scottish Water’s emissions. Targets are in place to become operationally
net zero by 2030 and achieve full net zero status by 2040.
The use of Grandperspective’s scanfeld® technology is a sector-first in the UK and will revolutionise understanding of gas emissions and transform treatment
processes so they become environmentally sustainable.
Scottish Water operates more than 1,800 waste water treatment works in cities, towns and rural communities.
Existing techniques for identifying emissions only allow for localised understanding of emissions. The use of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) technology will
allow for a larger area to be scanned for nitrous oxide, methane and carbon dioxide and the role that treatment works play in emitting them. The solution being
implemented at a WWTW near Glasgow was identified through the Hydro Nation Chair programme, based at Stirling University. Around 200 businesses globally
were assessed for their suitability. The HNC Technology programme led by Senior Innovation Fellow David Millar joined forces with Scottish Water’s Net Zero
Research and Innovation lead Susan Lee to select the best technology.
David Millar said: “We have selected this technology for trial because it offers a level of granular detail, which we hope will deepen our understanding of emissions
from wastewater treatment plants. Identifying, quantifying, and locating the sources of emissions at these plants is vital as we work towards the target of going
beyond net zero by 2040.”
Susan Lee said: “This is a great opportunity for Scottish Water to build a deeper understanding of how much we are emitting on a whole wastewater treatment
site scale. This work will complement the industry best practice methods we are already adopting to quantify emissions to take steps to reduce them.”
Scotland Hydro Nation Chair Professor Andrew Tyler said: “This is an exciting milestone. This UK and sector first deployment of Grandperspective’s scanfeld®
solution will enhance our understanding of greenhouse gas emissions from waste water treatment processes and establish a baseline against which we can assess
change.”
George Ponton, Head of Research and Innovation at Scottish Water said: “The Hydro Nation Chair programme was established to bring thought leadership,
research excellence and innovative solutions from Scotland and beyond, focused on addressing the key challenges facing the water sector in Scotland.”
Peter Maas, Chief Technology Officer, Grandperspective, said: “We eagerly anticipate the results of Scottish Water's scanfeld® deployment. The technology's
potential to drive sustainability and facilitate emissions monitoring is truly promising. I am excited to support Scottish Water's journey towards a greener future."
Boost for emissions reduction as UK tech first deployed by Scottish
Water
Page 4
Industry News

FLEXIM and EMERSON will be entering a new and exciting phase
together
Emerson (NYSE: EMR) today announced a definitive agreement to acquire FLEXIM Flexible Industriemeßtechnik GmbH (“Flexim”), a global leader in clamp-on
ultrasonic flow measurement for liquids, gases and steam.
Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Flexim brings highly differentiated, complementary technology and strong customer relationships to Emerson, with an
installed base of more than 100,000 flowmeters, as well as approximately 450 employees. Flexim provides highly accurate, low-maintenance clamp-on ultrasonic
flow measurement technology for a broad range of attractive end markets, including chemical, water & wastewater, life sciences, food & beverage, and power
generation. The transaction will expand Emerson’s automation portfolio and measurement capabilities, complementing its existing flow measurement positions
in Coriolis, differential pressure, magmeter and vortex flow measurement. Underpinned by favorable end market growth and technology leadership, the global
ultrasonic clamp-on flowmeter market is expected to grow in the high single digits annually longer-term. Upon the close of the transaction, Flexim’s Berlin
headquarters is planned to become Emerson’s Ultrasonic Flow Measurement Center of Excellence.
“WeareexcitedtofurtherenhanceEmerson’scapabilitieswiththeadditionofFlexim’sleadingclamp-onultrasonicmeasurementtechnology,
which is a strong complement to our intelligent devices portfolio,” said Ram Krishnan, chief operating officer of Emerson. “Flexim brings an
exciting new technology that will enable us to accelerate growth. The combination of Emerson’s comprehensive measurement suite and
Flexim’s innovative technology will enhance the value we bring to customers across a variety of industries. We look forward to welcoming
Flexim’s skilled and dedicated employees to Emerson, where they will continue to play a critical role in driving the success of the business.”
“We are thrilled to be joining Emerson, which shares our culture of innovation and focus on technology and R&D,” said Jens Hilpert, chief executive officer and
co-founder of Flexim. “This transaction will enable us to provide more comprehensive solutions to a broader set of customers, leveraging Emerson’s global
intelligent devices leadership and commercial excellence. As we join forces with Emerson, we will continue to serve our customers and utilize our combined
capabilities to solve essential measurement needs.”
The transaction is expected to close by the end of Emerson’s fiscal 2023, subject to customary closing conditions. Flexim is expected to be accretive to Emerson’s
sales growth, gross margins and adjusted EBITA margins. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Flexim will be reported in Emerson’s Measurement &
Analytical segment.
Siemens data platform helps Northumbrian Water to tackle
household leaks
Siemens Grid Software has secured a new contract with Northumbrian Water Group and have deployed EnergyIP® MDM X, part of the Siemens Xcelerator
portfolio. Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) is enhancing its ability to detect and reduce household water leaks by connecting more than one million smart
water meters to a new Siemens data management platform by 2030. The water utility is undergoing a major rollout of smart meters, which report data back
to the cloud on an hourly basis. The Siemens Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution will allow NWG to analyse this data to identify household consumption
anomalies and alert customers of potential leaks on their properties.
The system will ultimately help NWG to meet UK water regulator Ofwat’s targets for reducing leakages and per capita consumption. The utility services 4.5 million
people in the North East of England, and in the South East as Essex & Suffolk Water. Siemens collaborated with NWG’s team to design, develop, test and launch
the meter data management SaaS, which is powered by the technology company’s EnergyIP® software. It represents the largest solution of its kind implemented
by Siemens for the water industry in Europe, and its largest deployment of grid software to date.
EnergyIP® MDM X for Water is part of Siemens Xcelerator, the company’s digital business platform, enabling customers to accelerate their digital transformation
easier, faster, and at scale.
Sabine Erlinghagen, CEO of Grid Software at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, said: “Water is a precious resource, and we need to deal with it in the most sustainable
way possible. EnergyIP® MDM X will enable NWG to make the best use of their data to reduce leakage and water consumption across their network. We’re
supporting the water industry by providing purposeful software technology for greater customer impact and sustainability."
Gary Adams, Head of Smart Transformation at NWG said: "The EnergyIP® MDM implementation is a critical cornerstone in our smart metering journey, allowing
us to effectively manage the large volumes of metering data we will receive and to drive efficient operational activity for both our customers and our wider
business providing access to granular smart data at the click of a button. Being able to rely on Siemens expertise in this area gives us confidence that we can
achieve our smart metering ambitions now and, in the future.”
Page 5

Northumbrian Water progresses five Innovation Festival projects
with kick-starter funding for further development
Northumbrian Water is progressing five projects which came out of this year’s Innovation Festival with kick-starter funding for further development. The ideas
were born out of a series of sprints, hacks, and dashes which took place at the Innovation Festival in July – workshop-style sessions which follow a five-stage
process to help inspire creativity - and each one focused on a different subject. The water company is highlighting the following five projects which came out of
the festival and have already been given kick-starter funding to get them off the ground. It is believed that the projects have the potential to contribute to a total
value of more than £170 million for Northumbrian Water over the next five years.
Power Arrangers. This project in partnership with technology company, Siemens, has been given more than £20,000 to start a feasibility
study which will look at creating a circular economy for renewable energy. This will make the company’s treatment sites more resilient to
power outages using renewable technologies, as well as resulting in big energy savings and a lower carbon footprint.
Net Zero Me. In partnership with Kraken - the technology tentacle of the Octopus Energy Group - this project has been granted £20,000 to
develop a mobile app that tracks customers’ energy and water consumption, offering tips and challenges to help reduce usage and lower
bills.
Save Our Sewers. Four projects have been identified that can accelerate work already underway to help improve the wastewater network.
In partnership with software company, Esri, these include removing highway drainage from our sewer network, creating an interactive map,
a citizen water bank which will help customers manage water that goes into the waste network, and a localised project in Marske-by-the
Sea which will ensure 100% of the network is used.
Pump Up the Volume. £20,000 has been granted to this project in partnership with technical consultancy, Jacobs. The aim is to develop a
Water Cookbook for Northumbrian Water’s network investment and improvement projects which will reduce the concept and design stage
costs from between 6% and 9%, down to 3%.
Dewatering the Economy. This project, in partnership with Wave Utilities, has been given £20,000. It will see improved business customers’
awareness around private pipework, mapping their network and helping them to understand their responsibilities. This project is estimated
to save 165 million litres of water per day over five years – saving water, money and lowering leaks.
Some of the other ideas to come out of Northumbrian Water’s Innovation Festival include a first-of-its-kind map that will show where the job opportunities are
in the North East, as well as helping a more joined-up approach to flooding management.
Northumbrian Water’s Head of Innovation, Angela MacOscar, said:
“TheseprojectsareexactlywhyweholdourInnovationFestivalyearafteryear.Bringingadiversegroupofpeopletogether,fromdifferentsectorsandorganisations
literally right around the world, allows for lots of different views and ideas to be brought to the table, and that’s where we see these brilliant solutions sparking
up. All of these ideas and projects are going to feed into a pipeline of innovation which has the potential to really change the way we work and improve things
for our customers, and I can’t wait to see how they develop.”
Gradiant launches Turing, a digital solutions provider for the water
industry
Gradiant, a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment, announced it has established its digital and AI technology business into a wholly
owned independent subsidiary, named Turing. Named after AI pioneer Alan Turing, this new entity aims to drive substantial cost savings and sustainability outcomes
across the entire water value chain.
The launch of Turing underlines a market shift towards AI-driven solutions in the water industry and Gradiant’s commitment to accelerating this transition. Turing will
concentrate on utilizing its AI-powered platform (which includes SmartOps for treatment plants and HydroEye for distribution networks) to deliver transformative
value and improved operational efficiency for clients.
Turing’s platform has already achieved significant adoption by customers which include Fortune 100 companies and large public utilities:
• Delivered solutions to Aqualia, BHP, ENGIE, PUB Singapore, Rio Tinto, Severn Trent, Detectronic, and Xylem.
• Helped PUB Singapore remotely monitor its wastewater network to save millions of dollars by preventing multiple sewer overflows, detecting incidents of
illicit discharge events by real-time monitoring for water quality, and preventing damage to underground sewer pipes and tunnels.
• Created savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars at an ENGIE plant in the Middle East.
• Resulted in more than 10% energy savings for a seawater desalination project in Australia.
“Having witnessed the transformative power of digital technologies and AI solutions to address global challenges, we recognize that few issues are as crucial as
ensuring freshwater for our future generations. Both Gradiant and Turing will have the power to grow by managing their resources separately to develop and deploy
leading-edge technologies into their respective markets. With this move, we are further uniquely positioned to meet the dynamic needs of our customers.” said
Anurag Bajpayee, CEO of Gradiant.
“Turing will focus on its vision to scale and deploy a differentiated platform for AI-powered digital solutions for industrial and municipal water clients around the
world,” said Prakash Govindan, COO of Gradiant. “The spin-off will allow the companies to leverage each other’s strengths – Gradiant’s expertise in water and
wastewater treatment and project delivery, and Turing’s expertise in AI and digital solutions across the entire water value chain. Hiep Le, our visionary CTO, will
continue to lead the advancement of our digital technologies along with an experienced team of executives.”
Page 6

Scottish Water to roll out IoT based intelligent monitoring system to
a further 300 sites
An intelligent monitoring system which has been successfully introduced by Scottish Water across rural locations in the Highlands and Islands, using IoT to gather
essential data that helps keep the water network in Scotland safe, is set to be deployed at a further 300 sites.
Using a device developed by CENSIS for M2M Cloud, Scottish Water can now automatically collect information on the temperature and flow of water in Scottish
Water buildings as part of routine quality assurance checks.
Working as a supplier to Scottish Water’s Digital Framework partners, Atos, M2M Cloud’s Gemini devices have so far been deployed across all Scottish Water sites
in Shetland, Orkney and Islay. The next phase of the roll-out will extend the deployment to a further 300 sites, covering around half of the network. The installation
of the smart water monitoring systems forms part of a wider commitment to digital transformation at Scottish Water, led by Atos.
Any unusual readings could point towards a potentially harmful bacteria outbreak, including legionella. Until now, the process was carried out manually with
employees travelling the country to undertake regular testing.
The first of its kind device fits on to the surface of pipes to remotely take temperature readings, notifying building managers if the water system is out of
specification. Readings are taken every 10 seconds, looking at minimum and maximum temperatures, as well as detecting any issues with water flow events.
This latest generation of the rechargeable battery-powered device was developed by CENSIS for M2M Cloud, after receiving grant funding from Scottish Enterprise
last year.
The device is now capable of operating on both cellular Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT) and LoRaWAN networks, making the system easier to set up in hard-to-reach
areas. The addition of Bluetooth connectivity has cut installation times by one-third.
Chris Butchart, director at M2M Cloud, said:
“Water monitoring has typically been a carbon-intensive, resource-heavy process involving engineers taking manual readings monthly. For Scottish Water, the
ability to gather that data on a continuous basis will be transformational in terms of the way it operates remote sites and ensures safe conditions are met. To have
Scottish Water as the first organisation to use our latest generation device is a huge vote of confidence and we look forward to the next stage of the roll-out.”
M2M Cloud’s system can reduce carbon emissions associated with water monitoring by up to 75% – around 300kgs of CO2 per year for each monitored asset
– by removing the need for travel to the site and the necessity to overheat water supplies, which organisations often do to avoid the risk of bacteria outbreaks.
Water wastage is also reduced by around 225,000 litres per asset, per year. The device’s battery can last for up to five years before needing recharged, rather than
replaced, and can be charged while the device remains in situ attached to the pipework. It is also the only water safety device to have been awarded IASME Gold
level certification – an industry-recognised measure of IoT cyber security.
Monitoring water systems in UK non-domestic buildings is a statutory requirement costing around £140 million per annum, while financial estimates put the
healthcare and workplace impact of legionella alone at £1 billion per year across Europe. It is anticipated that the Health and Safety Executive compliance
legislation will soon evolve to include remote technology-led monitoring as part of legionella prevention.
Kevin Power, system architect at CENSIS, said:
“It is great to see the successful use of a 5G ready IoT device wholly designed and manufactured in Scotland, by one of our biggest utility providers. We have
supported M2M Cloud since the early stages of development and the business continues to go from strength to strength. The latest generation of the technology
represents a big step forward in terms of ease of connectivity and will support the growing demand from businesses for digital transformation and IoT.”
Archie MacGregor, Property Manager, at Scottish Water added:
“The remote temperature monitoring sensors have been a major step forward in enhancing the management of H&S in our building water systems as well as
offering significant benefits in reducing journeys to site and related carbon emissions. We are delighted to have M2M and CENSIS working with us in delivering
these innovative solutions which completely align with our Strategic Ambitions of Net Zero Emissions and providing Great Value for our customers.”
Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead said the deployment across all Scottish Water sites in Shetland, Orkney and Islay, with plans to extend the roll-out to a
further 300 locations, shows the opportunity to scale up the technology.
Page 7

Water pollution, carbon emissions and biodiversity threats set to be
tackled by satellite data services
The UK Space Agency has announced that work is about to start on a series of innovative climate services that use the unique vantage point of space to provide
businesses and other organisations with information about environmental risks and how to mitigate them.
UK SPACE AGENCY SPACE DRIVEN CLIMATE SERVICES 1
Ten new projects will use Earth observation tools, satellite tracking and data on population demographics, supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI), to produce
forecasts and models that can be used by sectors ranging from agriculture and energy, to finance and insurance.
Funded by the UK Space Agency, the applications will not only allow businesses, governments and others to understand and mitigate risks, but they will also help
identify opportunities for green financing that could support sustainable business growth.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:
“The UK has a long history of expertise and innovation in Earth observation, developing satellites to collect increasingly detailed data and using that information
to build services that help protect our planet.
“This targeted funding for early-stage innovations is all about supporting fresh ideas and accelerating the roll-out of powerful new tools that have the potential
to bring benefits to a wide range of users both within and beyond the space sector.”
Eachprojectwillreceiveafundinginjectionofupto£55,000tobegindevelopmentinSeptemberonservicestoproducethemostuptodateviewofenvironmental
contexts possible with available Earth observation data, including methane and nitrous oxide emissions, watercourse resilience, biodiversity changes and the
infrastructure of decarbonising technologies.
One application by EOLAS Insight Ltd will develop a mapping and reporting service focused on watercourse resilience, helping businesses understand the effects
of global temperatures on crucial local watercourses and the benefits of investing in mitigation strategies, such as riverside woodland schemes.
The total £530,000 funding represents the second tranche of investment by the UK Space Agency directly into climate services development. It follows an £85,000
pot awarded earlier this year, which was split between nine UK organisations, including some of these projects in their earlier stages of idea development, which
used UK Space Agency funding to demonstrate the potential of their business ideas.
Other projects from this call include the Brighton-based Recycle2Trade project to monitor environmental sites, Aberdeen-based TrackGenesis Ltd’s Demeter
project to combine Earth observation and Global Navigation Systems to support food production in a changing climate and Edinburgh-based Trade In Space’s
project looking at deforestation connected to smallholder farming.
The list of funded projects includes the following:
• Agreed Earth Ltd, Bolton - Earth observation and machine learning-based solution to remotely model and monitor nitrous oxide (a potent
greenhouse gas) emissions from agricultural lands, giving farmers the opportunity to fully understand and optimise their nitrogen use.
• EOLAS Insight Ltd, Glasgow - Automated mapping and reporting service for watercourse climate resilience to help organisations understand
the effects of global temperatures on crucial local watercourses and the benefits of mitigation strategies, such as riverside woodland
schemes.
• Frontierra, London - Cloud-based service that will enable corporations and financial institutions to undertake a low-cost, rapid assessment
of their climate impact focusing on biodiversity and nature-related, risks, dependencies and opportunities.
• Map Impact Ltd, Bristol - Catchment-wide view for freshwater management, using multiple data sources to provide an up-to-date picture of
climate change and pollution impacts to help communities to forecast future events and outbreaks and, mitigate risks that threaten habitat
biodiversity and human health.
• Sparkgeo UK, Edinburgh - Automated methane monitoring service to allow stakeholders the ability to measure and monitor emissions of
methane – one of the most potent greenhouse gases – across their areas of interest and alert them when they are above acceptable levels.
• Agtelligence, London Develop FarmScore: minimising the climate impact on farmlands through a comprehensive and objective assessment
system that uses Earth observation data, ground truthing (known or directly observable information) and a weighted scoring model to
measure critical environmental indicators and unlock green financing opportunities.
• Omanos Analytics, Glasgow - Improve resilience planning and deliver social context data on the impact of climate change issues on different
demographics through a service that integrates community narratives – based on data such as land use and traditional livelihoods – in Earth
observation products.
• Capterio, London - Satellite-enabled tool for tracking and reducing gas flaring and methane emissions from the global oil and gas supply
chains.
• GeoSmart Information Ltd, Shrewsbury - Automated, highly accessible groundwater-level forecasting system using Earth observation to
provide accurate data to boost climate change resilience through improved coverage of flood and drought management systems.
• Stellarsat Ltd, Bristol - Framework using various data and AI tools to pro-actively address the exposure of increasing numbers of critical
energy infrastructure assets (such as electric vehicle charging stations and solar home systems) to physical risks induced by climate change.
Page 8

Siemens digital twin set to drive world’s first carbon neutral
wastewater treatment plant
The ‘Net Zero Hub’, led by Severn Trent Water and based at
Strongford, Stoke-on-Trent, will deploy cutting-edge technology,
including Siemens gPROMS digital twin, to reduce and remove CO2,
CH4, and N2O emissions, which account for 57% of all emissions
from the wastewater treatment process.
The ground-breaking project – which is backed by all UK and Irish
water companies and international Net Zero Partnership with
Aarhus Vand in Denmark and Melbourne Water in Australia –
will transform Severn Trent’s large, carbon intensive Strongford
wastewater treatment plant into the world’s first retro-fit carbon
neutral site.
The new ‘Net Zero Hub’ won £10 million funding from the Ofwat
Innovation Fund, a further £0.9 million has been secured through
Horizon Europe and £28 million will be invested by Severn Trent to
make this ambition a reality.
The partnership of water companies and industry providers is set
to remove direct process emissions from the bacterial digestion
of wastewater for the first time. The work is set for completion in
2024 and represents a world first, providing a blueprint for net-zero
wastewater treatment.
The gPROMS technology will model the water treatment process in real time through 60,000 dynamic and static data points and will enable the operator to
closely monitor energy use and emissions, while ensuring it can keep within permit conditions for effluent quality.
The digital twin will also help create the first mechanistic model of N2O, which is 300 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2.
The Siemens technology, originally spun-out of Imperial College London (UK) for the pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries, is an example of how
innovation developed for other sectors is being transferred into the water industry to make a transformative impact.
Siemens is working alongside Atkins, Explore AI and Xylem on the digital twin workstream.
Rich Walwyn, Head of Asset Intelligence and Innovation at Severn Trent, said:
“While combating the climate emergency is a huge challenge, it is one we are determined to meet, and collaborating with industry experts and water companies
– be it here in the UK or overseas – is key to bringing about change.
“We have scoured the world to find the best solutions to measure and then remove, reduce, replace and offset operational emissions, with the goal of
integrating them all at our new ‘Net Zero Hub’. This innovative project is incredibly exciting for the sector, as it has the potential to change the face of wastewater
treatment worldwide.”
Adam Cartwright, Head of IoT Applications at Siemens UK & Ireland, commented:
“Projects like the Net Zero Hub will be viewed in the future as the beginning of a change in how the water industry approached technology and industry
collaboration.
“Digitalisation means that operational silos can be linked so that a whole system can be optimised to meet major challenges like achieving net zero, and the
sector must embrace this to deliver the change it needs.
“But we must recognise that those challenges are so large and complex that no-one company can solve them. This project is an excellent example of the depth
of collaboration needed to make investment stretch further, while uncovering new ways of how the industry can deliver infrastructure differently.”
Page 9

Connexin uses Smart Water sensors to raise awareness of climate
change
As part of World Water Week, Yorkshire-based IoT and smart cities provider Connexin, has reinforced its commitment to climate change awareness through the
innovation and delivery of smart water solutions.
This year’s World Water Week focuses on the role of innovation as the world faces an unprecedented global water crisis. For the first time the safe planetary
boundary for water has now been crossed due to the impact of human activities on the climate, leaving around two billion people worldwide without access to
safe drinking water.
Connexin is pioneering the delivery of smart water solutions to raise awareness of climate change, provide valuable insights to utility companies and help tackle
the impact of water wastage. Having secured a number of successful customer partnerships across the UK, it is currently working with Yorkshire Water to roll-out
a smart water network throughout the region to provide greater transparency of water consumption patterns.
Elsewhere in the country, Connexin is digitally transforming the water network in Coventry and Warwickshire with Severn Trent Water. Extending its smart water
network to give real-time insights on water usage and help Severn Trent Water speedily identify leaks and burst pipes, monitor consumption patterns, and
reduce water loss.
Looking at the bigger picture
Severn Trent Water stated an average annual leakage per person was previously at 140 litres. By utilising and analysing data from the smart water network,
Coventry’s average usage per person has decreased to 115 litres, with this expected to fall further as efforts to reduce water loss continues.
The ongoing monitoring and detection of leaks helps water companies reduce demand for water, as less will need to be extracted from natural sources. Detection
can also extend to target common issues such as pollution incidents and energy use through smart metering and water quality sensors.
Customers of Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water have access to a network that provides them further breakdown of their water usage by receiving
accurate, automated billing, allowing them to pro-actively make decisions on how they use water and how they can use it better, further reducing the likelihood
of excess water wastage.
Some areas of the country like Hull and the East Yorkshire currently sit at sea level or below. This puts them at risk of being underwater as sea levels continue to
rise. However, as smart meters and sensors have a battery life of around 15 years, they can be used to monitor changes over time and save money in the longer
term.
Dan Preece, Vice President of IoT at Connexin comments: "As part of World Water Week, we’re proud of the contribution we’re making to help to create more
sustainable water practices across the UK.
Successful contract wins and partnerships with the likes of Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water are only the starting point for us. We know that climate
change is a real threat to mankind and our planet, and we want to help reverse the adverse effects with better water management, to ensure the lives of our
current and future generations.”
EPA Releases Initial Nationwide Monitoring Data On 29 PFAS And
Lithium
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the first set of data collected under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). In the
latest action to deliver on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, UCMR 5 will provide new data that will improve EPA’s understanding of the frequency that 29 PFAS and
lithium are found in the nation’s drinking water systems, and at what levels. The monitoring data on PFAS and lithium will help the Agency make determinations
about future actions to protect public health under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This action advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to combat
PFAS pollution and safeguard drinking water for all people.
“PFAS are an urgent public health issue facing people and communities across the nation. The latest science is clear: exposure to certain PFAS, also known as
forever chemicals, over long periods of time is linked to significant health risks,” said Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “That’s why the Biden-
Harris Administration is leading a whole-of-government approach to address these harmful chemicals. As part of this commitment, EPA is conducting the most
comprehensive monitoring effort for PFAS ever, at every large and midsize public water system in America, and at hundreds small water systems.”
The data collected under UCMR 5 will ensure science-based decision-making and help EPA better understand national-level exposure to these 29 PFAS and
lithium, and whether they disproportionately impact communities with environmental justice concerns. This initial data release represents approximately 7%
of the total results that EPA expects to receive over the next three years. The Agency will update the results quarterly and share them with the public in EPA’s
National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD) until completion of data reporting in 2026. EPA continues to conduct research and monitor advances in
techniques that may improve our ability to measure these and other contaminants at even lower levels.
EPA is also deploying an unprecedented $9B, included in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, specifically to invest in communities with drinking water
impacted by PFAS and other emerging contaminants. This includes $4B via the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and $5B through EPA’s “Emerging
Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities” grant program. States, Tribes and communities can further leverage an additional nearly $12B in BIL
DWSRF funds and billions more in annual SRF funds dedicated to making drinking water safer. These funds will help communities make important investments
in solutions to remove PFAS from drinking water.
Page 10

Pivotal discovery in sensor technology to combat water
contamination
There is a global water crisis, and it is not only about the dwindling supply of clean water. Contaminated drinking water exposes hundreds of millions of people
worldwide to toxins, such as bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides and corona-viruses. This contamination imperils public health and can cause serious illnesses.
A team of researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, along with the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the
University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, has devised a pathway for the mass manufacture of sensors able to simultaneously detect
lead, mercury and E. coli. in flowing tap water. The team’s innovation promises to help safeguard public health by providing early warning for contamination.
“Traditionally, sensors designed to measure contaminants in water have suffered from reliability issues and the inability to detect faulty devices,” said Argonne
scientist Haihui Pu, who holds a joint appointment with UChicago’s Pritzker Molecular Engineering.
“Improved sensors could avert health crises.”
At the core of these sensors lies a one-nanometer-thick layer of carbon and oxygen atoms, a form of graphene, which is coated on a silicon substrate. This
graphene material serves a similar purpose to the semiconductors found in computer chips. Gold electrodes are then imprinted onto the graphene surface,
followed by a nanometer-thick insulating layer of aluminum oxide. Each sensor is tailored to detect one of the three toxins: lead, mercury or E. coli. One of the
major challenges in mass manufacturing these sensors has been assessing their quality. Tiny areas of undesired porosity can form in the ultra-thin insulating
layer. This porosity allows electrons from the bottom graphene layer to escape into the top insulating layer. This leakage compromises its effectiveness as an
insulator and results in unreliable sensor responses.
The team’s recent publication in Nature Communications describes a screening method to identify defective devices before mass production. The method
involves measuring the electrical response of the insulating layer while the sensor is submerged in water. Key is that the screening does not damage the sensor.
By employing this technique, the team identified structural defects in the insulating layers. They were then able to establish criteria to easily detect faulty
devices. To demonstrate the efficacy of their approach, the team evaluated a three-sensor array able to simultaneously detect lead, mercury and E. coli in
flowing tap water. Using machine learning algorithms to analyze the results, they were able to quantify toxin levels down to the parts per billion, even in the
presence of interfering elements.
“The beauty of the sensors is that you can apply them in any form of water, not just tap water,” said Junhong Chen, Argonne’s lead water strategist and Crown
Family Professor at Pritzker Molecular Engineering.
“What’s more, you can combine three, thirty or three hundred sensors, with each tailored to detect
different constituents.” These include not only heavy metals and bacteria, but pharmaceuticals, pesticides, coronaviruses and a common contaminant in
water, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They might also include critical resources, such as cobalt for batteries and nitrogen and phosphorus as nutrients
for plants and animals.
Once problematic or valuable elements are identified and removed, the sensors can be used to assess the cleanliness of treated water. The results can guide
the safe reuse of the water, including potable use, agriculture and irrigation, groundwater replenishment and industrial processes. Chen expressed hope for
commercializing this technology through a start-up company he founded.
“But water contamination poses a global health problem demanding collective
efforts,” he said. The team’s screening method offers a versatile tool for monitoring water quality and optimizing its safe reuse. As scientists tackle this critical
issue, their efforts serve as a beacon of hope for a healthier, more sustainable future.
Scottish Water uses data to drive wastewater site improvements
An enhanced focus on data is giving Scotland’s most experienced waste water site operators a new insight into running critical infrastructure. A new system
called Exemplar captures the end-to-end process of running some of the country’s biggest waste water treatment plants. It was trialled at one of the country’s
biggest treatment works in Paisley and is now being rolled out to 16 new sites across Scotland to improve how these assets run.
Scottish Water treats more than 1 billion litres of waste water every day, while processes associated with treatment accounts for more than 70 per cent of
CO2 emitted annually by the publicly operated organisation. Exemplar uses digital technology connecting our operators to new dynamic insights from smart
sensors, giving them detailed information into how each plant is operating. It allows for adjustments to be made in treatment processes, reduce energy
consumption and costs, and even helps predict when investment might be needed ahead of mechanical or electrical failures to reduce reactive repairs.
Exemplar collects data on six key areas: Telemetry, critical asset condition monitoring, final effluent monitoring, real-time control, weather and environment
data, and energy use. All of these are vital elements in how a waste water site runs. Waste water operations manager Nathan Wield led the project team. He
said: “This technology transforms what was a relatively traditional and manual approach to operating our assets and the treatment of Scotland’s waste water
to one which puts data at the heart of it allowing for smarter, quicker and more effective decision making.
“Ultimately it improves the service we offer to the public and improves our protection of the environment which is something we all feel an enormous pride
in within waste water operations teams. He added: “Exemplar gives us real-time, live visibility of a range of parameters giving us enhanced understanding
of treatment processes and the effective operation of our assets. Operators at one site can also see remotely how another site many miles away is running
– reducing our need to be on the road. “By operating smarter and being in much greater control over the treatment processes and energy use, it gives our
teams a platform on which to base really dynamic decision-making."
Rob Mustard, Scottish Water’s Director of Digital and Transformation said: “By delivering the right technology to the right people at the right time we can
improve performance, add value for money and deliver excellent and reliable service. “Mapping our strategic objectives and activities to technologies and
being innovative in our thinking will ensure we can meet the challenges of an ever-changing world and reduce our environmental impact very directly.” The
Exemplar system will operate 24-hours a day across a range of operator devices at some of our larger treatment sites, giving instant access to the latest site
information.
Page 11

Gutermann & Deutsche Telekom partner to enhance water supply
networks with acoustic leak detection
Gutermann, Swiss company specialized in leak detection, and Deutsche Telekom are networking infrastructures for water supply. The solution identifies leaks
using acoustic signals – early, precisely and with minimal installation effort. Data transmission from the pipe shafts uses the NarrowBand IoT (NB-IoT) machine
and sensor network, which is particularly suitable thanks to its deep penetration.
Intelligent connectivity for water pipe networks
Water is becoming an increasingly valuable resource. But public water supply pipelines are experiencing high losses worldwide. According to data published by
the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in 2020, these losses amount to up to ten percent in the German
drinking water supply network alone. Causes include leaks due to material fatigue or bursting as a result of pipeline pressure. It is essential to locate the leakage
points precisely, repair the damage quickly, and keep water leakage to a minimum.
Acoustic leak detection offered by Gutermann in cooperation with Deutsche Telekom helps to quickly detect and precisely locate leaks in the pipelines. For
this purpose, Gutermann installs so-called noise loggers in the pipe networks at regular intervals. Simultaneously, the robust devices measure sounds in their
environment and send the noise profiles to the cloud. An analysis software automatically filters out background noises that only show up on individual sensors.
The noise profiles of the devices are then compared with each other. If there is a leak, the noise profiles of neighbouring sensors are identical.
For such radio connectivity of loggers in underground pipe shafts, deep penetration is essential. The energy-efficient NB-IoT mobile communications standard
reliably sends the acoustic data to the cloud. A radio module including a Deutsche Telekom SIM card is integrated into the loggers for this purpose. The loggers
adhere magnetically to the metal pipes or are mounted on shut-off valves. Additional devices such as an above-ground signal amplifier are not necessary. For
the leakage specialists and their public water supply customers, this means minimal installation effort without bureaucratic hurdles: They do not need permits
to mount additional devices on lampposts or other infrastructure.
International and economical: usable worldwide thanks to NB-IoT
“Thanks to NarrowBand IoT, which is available in more and more country networks of Deutsche Telekom and its partners, our solution can be used worldwide,”
says Gutermann CEO Uri Gutermann. “Deutsche Telekom supports us not only with the infrastructure, but also with dedicated contacts who advise us on
international projects. That is enormously important for us as a small but global player that is active in over 100 countries. Because we can’t build relationships
with local telecom providers in all these countries.” Other benefits of the NB-IoT solution: “The cost per measuring point has dropped; we only need one
device, no more repeaters, and we don’t have any installation costs. This has made it much more economical to roll out our solution on a large scale.”
“ConnectingwaterpipenetworksforacousticleakdetectionshowsthefullpotentialofNarrowBandIoT.Nootherstandardwouldallowsuchreliablepenetration
from underground shafts,” says Dennis Nikles, CEO Deutsche Telekom IoT GmbH (DT IoT). “In times of climate change, the application thus makes an important
contribution to greater sustainability in water management and to the security of supply of clean drinking water for cities and communities.”
Page 12

NitrousOxideLevelsMonitoredForOneYearAtWastewaterTreatment
Plants In Europe And Australia
Wastewater treatment plants in Denmark, Australia and the UK joined forces for one year to monitor emissions of nitrous oxide. This greenhouse gas may be
subject to stricter regulation in future and is thus worth learning more about. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a greenhouse gas which is almost 300 times more harmful
than CO2, and makes a substantial contribution to global warming (IPCC report). Consequently, from a CO2-equivalent perspective, it makes sense to consider
reducing nitrous oxide emissions.
"Studies show that nitrous oxide contributes substantially to the CO2 footprint of utilities with biological nitrogen removal." - Professor Bo Thamdrup of the
University of Southern Denmark
Together with Melbourne Water and the UK’s Severn Trent, Aarhus Vand has formed a leading international alliance called the Net Zero Partnership with the
goal of collectively reducing carbon emissions by one million tons annually. They agree that a significant proportion of emissions derive from the activated sludge
process.
Nitrous oxide monitored in both liquid and gas phase
For one year, each partner thus monitored nitrous oxide emissions in both the gas and the liquid phase in order to learn more about the variations in emissions
and how to reduce them. The results of the analysis were presented at the IWA Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies in South Korea
in June 2023, with a keynote talk by Morten Rebsdorf, senior project manager at Aarhus Vand.
"We’re looking at a future with a potential CO2 tax on emissions, which means it will be highly relevant to reduce nitrous oxide, due to its high impact on global
warming." - Morten Rebsdorf, senior project manager, Aarhus Vand.
He explained that nitrous oxide occurs, for example, when there is a high nitrogen load, which puts pressure on microbiological mechanisms, leading to the
formation of nitrous oxide. This can be reduced through new control strategies for the activated sludge process.
Measurements performed every minute
Wastewater treatment plants in Australia, the United Kingdom and Denmark monitored three full-scale activated sludge processes for one year. Nitrous oxide
emissions were measured using both liquid phase sensors and gas analysers connected to gas collection hoods. The measurements were performed online and
recorded once every minute. To enable comparison, as well as understand mechanisms that lead to emissions, similar measurement parameters between the
three sites were essential.
“We lack a fundamental understanding of how the contribution varies seasonally, and with different types of operation, and across climate zones. Detailed
monitoring of N2O in different systems is an important step towards reducing emissions,” said Professor Bo Thamdrup.
The key results of the study were as follows:
On a yearly average, the daily emission factors were essentially the same in the three wastewater treatment plants studied, at approximately 1.5% N2O/TN
In spring, emissions of nitrous oxide peaked at all three plants
• Measurements in both water and gas are important to gain an overall impression of formation vs emissions
• Calibrating the frequency of measurement sensors is important to obtain reliable and comparable results
• Similar average results in all three countries
Despite the quite different operating conditions between the wastewater treatment plants involved, such as average temperature and sludge age, the average
annual results of the measurements were similar in all three countries. One of the most surprising results was the seasonal variation. The amount of nitrous
oxide peaks during spring in all three countries, and there are several hypotheses as to why this is the case.
“The question is whether rising temperatures causing a change in the microbial composition are the reason for an imbalance, which in turn brings about a rise
in the level of nitrous oxide. We will need to investigate this further,” says Morten Rebsdorf.
The annual average of daily emission factors also turned out to be quite similar in all three countries, at approximately 1.5% N2O/TN. This accords quite well
with the current IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) emission factor of 1.6% N2O/TN, but only in an average perspective. However, national
emission factor guidelines are lower in all three countries. In Denmark the emission factor is 0.84% N2O/TN, while in the UK and Australia the factors are 0.4 %
N2O/NH3-N and 0.5% N2O/TN, respectively.
Standardization needed
At the IWA-LET conference in Korea it was concluded that there is a need to develop well-proven monitoring, calculation and reporting methodologies. It is very
important to have standardized methods to calculate emission factors to ensure reported emissions are reflective of actual emissions.
“I experienced a great deal of interest from the audience in relation to standardizing the methods for measuring and analysing nitrous oxide emissions. With this
international pilot project, we hope to have contributed to creating a pathway towards common ground in this respect,” concludes Morten Rebsdorf.
Page 13

Article:
Advantages of Laser Scanning
Submerged Tanks
In the realm of modern industrial applications, technology continues to evolve, bringing forth innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and safety.
One such advancement that has revolutionised the way submerged tanks are surveyed is laser scanning. Leveraging cutting-edge laser scanning technology,
companies like GDi are paving the way for unparalleled accuracy, speed, and safety in submerged tank inspections. This article delves into the benefits of laser
scanning submerged tanks, highlighting its accuracy, data capture process, output applications, and the consequential advantages it offers to the industry.
In the modern day water industry this is an invaluable technique as it captures the asset in minute detail so that future engineers when working on a capital scheme
can have information on assets at a level that they have never had before. This allows huge savings in design and installation services, improved health & safety as
engineers can limit access to hazardous environments and cost savings with site visits.
A Brief Overview of Laser Scanning Technology
Laser scanning, a non-contact technology, utilises lasers to capture precise measurements of objects, surfaces, and environments. This process involves emitting
laser light onto a target area, which then reflects back to the scanner. By analysing the time, it takes for the laser light to return, the scanner creates a highly detailed
3D representation of the object or environment. In the case of submerged tanks, this technology proves to be a game-changer, redefining the way inspections and
remediation work scope planning and execution are carried out.
Data Capture: Site Preparation and Speed of Capture
The process of laser scanning submerged tanks begins with correct site preparation. Ensuring optimal conditions is crucial to obtaining accurate data. Clearing any
major obstructions, ensuring appropriate lighting, and minimising reflective surfaces are key steps in preparing the site for scanning.
One of the most significant advantages of laser scanning is the remarkable speed at which data is captured. Traditional inspection methods often necessitate
draining the tank and taking it out of service for extended periods, disrupting operations and incurring substantial costs. However, laser scanning drastically
reduces downtime. GDi, a leading provider of surveying and geospatial solutions, conducted submerged tank surveys for a water authority using laser scanning
technology. Remarkably, the tanks only needed to be drained and taken out of service for a mere hour, showcasing the efficiency of this method.
Outputs: Engineering, Fabrication, Visual Inspection, and Condition Assessment
The data acquired through laser scanning is rich in detail and accuracy, forming a comprehensive point cloud. This point cloud, coupled with High Dynamic Range
(HDR) images captured simultaneously during scanning, creates a robust dataset that serves various purposes.
Engineering and Fabrication: The accuracy of the data collected through laser scanning is astounding, boasting precision down to 1 mm. This level of detail
empowers engineers and fabricators to design, plan, and execute with unmatched precision. From retrofitting existing structures to constructing new components,
the data from laser scanning ensures a seamless integration of new elements into the existing tank infrastructure.
Visual Inspection and Condition Assessment: Beyond engineering and fabrication, the point cloud and HDR images offer invaluable insights into the condition of the
Page 15

submerged tank. Integrity engineers and inspectors can navigate through the detailed 3D representation
of the tank's interior, identifying potential defects, corrosion, or structural anomalies. This remote
desktop inspection eliminates the need for personnel to enter the confined space of the submerged
tank, mitigating the associated risks and ensuring heightened safety.
Safety and Environmental Benefits
One of the key advantages of laser scanning submerged tanks is the elimination of the need to send
personnel into potentially hazardous confined spaces. Confined space entry poses significant risks to
workers, including exposure to toxic gases, limited mobility, and potential accidents. By utilising laser
scanning technology, companies like GDi have successfully removed this risk, prioritising the safety and
well-being of workers.
Furthermore, the reduction in downtime due to the expedited data capture process translates to
enhanced operational efficiency. The minimal disruption to tank operations is not only economically
beneficial but also environmentally responsible, as it reduces resource wastage and energy consumption
associated with draining and restarting tank systems.
Presentation of Data
Once the data has been captured, it needs to be presented in a format which is easy to access, easy to understand and easy to take advantage of. GDi's proprietary
software, Vision, is the key to sharing the data and making it accessible for all. Once in Vision the data can be tagged, measurements taken, work scopes planned
and executed all from a web-based solution with unlimited user access. Rescanning of the tank is not an issue with the software's 'archive' function which allows
previous data sets to be kept on record, including any findings. This has proven to be an excellent audit tool for companies with significant amount of assets. All
information in one location, with a visually led platform.
Conclusion
The step change brought about by laser scanning technology in submerged tank inspections is undeniable. The ability to capture data with such high accuracy,
coupled with rapid data collection and versatile output applications, has redefined the efficiency and safety of tank surveys. GDi's innovative application of this
technology for a water authority's submerged tank inspections underscores its real-world efficacy.
In an era where precision, speed, and safety are paramount, laser scanning has certainly moved things forward. By streamlining the inspection process, minimising
downtime, and eradicating confined space risks, this technology transcends traditional methods. The convergence of accuracy, efficiency, and safety through
laser scanning promises to reshape the landscape of industrial inspections, ensuring a brighter and safer future for tank maintenance and beyond.
Page 16

Article:
When is a spill not a spill - A short
history of EDM and storm spills
A sub-title to this blog could quite easily be….when is a spill not a spill a short history of monitoring storm overflows. Each year come at the end of March a
number of interested stakeholders including the water companies, NGOs (including The Rivers Trust) and the press look to how many storm overflows there have
been in the preceding calendar year. This is relatively new with the first figures coming out in 2026 when the first Event Duration Monitors (EDMs) were installed
(all 862 of them reported in the first year). However, the data coming from these EDMs has to be treated with a little bit of caution and it is likely that neither the
press nor the public will understand what the recorded number actually means.
Before I get too far down into the detail let’s explain a short history of monitoring storm overflows. The need for EDMs was first raised by a ministerial direction
in 2013 where it requested the water companies to monitor “the vast majority of storm overflows” by the end of the following asset management period running
from 2015 until 2020. This was all funded by the customer as part of the AMP6 investment period and was to 12,092 monitors installed over a five-year period
representing 83% of all storm overflows. The rest of these overflows are set to be installed and in place by the end of 2023. Before this point the monitoring of
overflows was ad hoc and very much depended upon the water company strategy and was not reported to the public as it is now.
Moving forward to current day the number of overflows reported in the annual submission to the Environment Agency for 2022 was a total of 301,091. Now a
reasonable member of the public without technology would assume that this number represents each and every occasion that a drop of water was discharged
to the environment. Here we hit the first misconception.
In fact the 301,091 figure actually represents the number of times and overflow has discharged and that event has been counted by the Environment Agency
12/24 method. So what does this mean?
Basically the 12/24 method is the method that the Environment Agency asks the water company to use when they are counting discharges. The basic method is
explained on the GOV website but can be summarised as:
1. Start counting when the first discharge occurs.
2. And discharge (or discharges) in the first 12-hour block is counted as one spill
3. Any discharge (or discharges) in the next, and subsequent 24-hour blocks, are each counted as one additional spill per block.
4. Continue counting until there’s a 24 -hour block with no discharge.
For helping in understanding this I’ve put this in a table below:
Basically, using this method, even if an overflow was spilling for the entire year starting on 1st January and finishing on 31st December the maximum of spills
per overflow could only be 366 and some of the worst performing overflows (according to 2022 discharge data) discharged on 340 occasions with an average
of almost 7 ½ hours every single day of the year. There are advantages to this method of spill counting but for the general public and the press it may seem that
the number of actual physical times that water weirs over a discharge to the environment is being obscured in someway and the real number is actually much
greater.
Measuring overflows accurately
Going back to our earlier figure the number of overflow monitors that were installed between 2015 and 2020 was in short, was a lot. At the peak up to an average
of 15 monitors were being installed every working day of the year. There were further complications to the installation programme insofar as no installation
standard or accuracy standards had been defined. Water Companies and their contractors were told to follow a good practice guide which at the time specified
that the accuracy of the device was to be +/- 10mm, since then in a second edition of the good practice guide this accuracy requirement has been removed.
There is a recognition in the industry that the accuracy of the monitors that were installed and some of the installation standards were less than desirable and
as such all of the EDM monitors that were installed are eventually going to fall under the Environment Agency Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCERTS) to
ensure that the quality of the data that is collected actually represents what is happening within the wastewater system. These standards have finally been set
by the Environment Agency and released in March 2023. The standard initially refers to the EDMs that are being installed on wastewater treatment works which
was part of the industry plan for delivery before 2025 but will apply to the EDMs installed in the wastewater networks.
Page 17

The poor installation can be seen in figure 1 with a storm overflow monitor that
is reporting data to the public. This installation spilled for “40 times” which isn’t
entirely unreasonable however the quality of this data isn’t checked, and the
installation is designed to have little or no maintenance or governance checks on
it. This isn’t the standard of most installations, and this represents a particularly
poor example which was installed in a rush, and this is what happens when the
industry is put under stress to deliver.
With the standard only delivered there are some technical issues to consider.
The current accuracy standard is to install a monitor so that it can read to +/-
5mm however there will be some overflows which are very shallow. We can see
this in figure 1 where the depth of the overflow is approximately 50mm. In this
case the accuracy of the device means that the uncertainty associated with the
measurement is up to 10%. This is not an extreme example, and some overflows
haveanuncertaintyofupto30%andthisisnotincludingtheuncertaintyassociated
with the differences in level of the installation itself. As level measurement devices
tend to, if anything, the number of overflows events could in fact be over-recorded.
This is where maintenance of a device is crucial, and technicians need to go to all
of these devices on a semi-regular basis to check their accuracy and make sure the
EDM devices are recording as accurately as possible. This is easier said than done
as some devices are in chambers in the middle of roads, or public highways in the
middle of tourist areas.
Figure 2 shows a storm overflow at the side of a busy road which just maintain it to ensure its accuracy in a planned manner would take the shut-down of the
road which even at night would create a number of problems and require a huge of permits, safety assessments and a great deal of planning which although
insurmountable would mean a large amount of cost which reflects in customer’s bills.
All of this goes to show that the number of spill events that are reported each year should be treated with a good amount of caution. These numbers are
reported to the public as if they are set in stone without the understanding of where the data has come from and the uncertainty in the measurement that is
associated with the number of events, basically the context of the measurement is missing.
Over time the number are going to improve and some confidence in the data is forthcoming as all EDMs fall under the Environment Agency MCERTS quality
assurance programme with the first monitors due to be inspected by 2026. Until then the accuracy of the data cannot be certain that the number of events
recorded is actually accurate and should used more as a guide.
The water industry has the largest and most expensive programme of monitoring due to start in 2025 with the installation of monitors under Section 82 of the
Environment Act requiring the industry to monitor water quality upstream and downstream of overflows in watercourses. This is a lot more complex and a lot
more difficult. Let us hope the standards and quality assurance will be in place before the industry starts installing.
Page 18

Case Study:
Brazil's Largest 3D Digital
Sanitation Map
Controlling water and sewage utilities in 489 municipalities in Brazil, Aegea is committed to improving sanitation processes through advanced technology and
digitization. Their goal is to facilitate network modernization to ensure access to clean water for over 30 million people. Aligned with these goals, they launched
their intelligent infrastructure program, Infra Inteligente, to create a virtual environment, digitally mapping the structures that they operate. The program will
help with preventing problems, reducing expenses, and ensuring operational efficiencies. Its objective is to identify and verify all physical assets of Aegea’s
sanitation operation, providing an opportunity to deliver better services and improve the quality of the water in Guanabara Bay, supporting the environment,
society, and sustainability. “The initiative focuses on comprehending and understanding the assets, the whole infrastructure, to determine which assets we
need to deal with to be more efficient and increase the availability and quality of our services,” said Wagner Oliveira de Carvalho, engineer and senior project
manager at Aegea.
As part of this smart digitization program, Aegea implemented Brazil’s largest asset inventory project in Rio de Janeiro, covering water and sewage treatment
plants, pump stations, tanks, and other assets spread across 27 municipalities. With a focus on preventive maintenance and modernization of the sanitation
infrastructure, Aegea invested BRL 10 million to create a true 3D digital map of Rio de Janeiro’s sanitation facilities, providing a real-time view of sanitation assets
from any location. “These actions ensure security to concession contracts in the regulatory aspect, bringing greater availability of services to the population and
assertiveness in operations, with a real-time view of the structures from anywhere in the world by Aegea’s team of experts,” said Carvalho. The digital roadmap
streamlines decision-making and ensures that the population receives essential life services, including 24/7 access to clean water.
As part of their smart infrastructure program, Aegea implemented their largest digital asset project in Rio de Janeiro. Image courtesy of Aegea.
Facing Site, Survey, and Coordination Challenges on a Tight Timeline
Improving and modernizing old assets is a challenge that requires using technologies to capture the current condition and variability of the assets, replacing
previously manual efforts. “Given the continental dimensions of our country, digital management and logistics are key issues for us,” said Carvalho. Aegea
wanted to establish a virtual asset environment; however, they needed to capture and integrate assets scattered throughout the city, most of them buried. “In
Rio de Janeiro, the initial estimated number of plants was 900 plants, but we found more than 1,300, of which 300 were found in low-income areas,” Carvalho
said. With more than 29,000 physical assets at 1,317 industrial plants, the sheer size of the project involved coordinating 70 multidiscipline specialists amid a
tight schedule to complete the 211,000 survey works and 3D modeling in Rio de Janeiro.
Adding to the project’s complexity was the topology of the city. Rio de Janeiro has a varying topography with mountains, hills, and rocks, resulting in difficulties
when surveying the plants and assets. Also, with the water source at the low point and the communities located at the high point, Aegea needed to ensure
that their pumps were operating, treating the water, and transporting the water through the thousands of kilometres of pipeline to the population. To optimize
their asset operations, they realized that they had to capture and share data in real time through digital surveying and monitoring to create accurate digital
twins of their sanitation infrastructure. “The search for solutions that minimize the time of detection and repair of leaks and that provide a strategic view of
the operation is constant, including support for real-time decision-making,” said Carvalho. To timely establish their digital 3D map, Aegea required flexible,
integrated modeling applications to accommodate multi-sourced data while facilitating collaboration and accessibility across multiple engineering disciplines
and concessionaires.
Leveraging Bentley Applications to Establish a 3D Digital Map
Leveraging ContextCapture and Bentley’s open modeling applications, Aegea processed drone-captured photos to generate a 3D reality mesh and digital
map of their plants and assets. “In this project, a set of 10 drones were flown over more than 1,300 plants, giving rise to a total of 156,000 photos that were
processed in ContextCapture. We then generated a 3D digital model for each of the plants and providing a publication of each mesh in .3MX format in [the]
Infra Inteligente portal,” said Carvalho. From the mesh model, Aegea created digital twins that accurately represent the structures, available in a web-based
Page 19

platform, providing a digital application for operations to control and monitor equipment and plants for logistical and operational planning. “We used several
Bentley [applications] to build the models and then import them into a unity platform to build the digital twins,” said Waldo Bitencort, engineering specialist
and project manager at Aegea.
Leveraging ContextCapture, Aegea processed 156,000 drone-captured photos in record time, generating 3D digital twins. Image courtesy of Aegea.
“The advanced reality capture methodology of this enormous project has been fully tuned to achieve maximum accuracy and reliability for both graphical and
non-graphical data, within a millimetre precision level,” said Bitencort. In the field, multidiscipline specialists with advanced equipment for georeferencing,
identification, and verification of physical assets worked to tag each plant, asset, and equipment down to the level of a pump in a motor. Using ContextCapture,
Aegea integrated the captured historical and real-time asset data to build the 3D asset map and digital twins, providing digital insight into asset reliability and
operational performance.
Digital Twins Optimize Service Availability, Reliability, and Sustainability
Working in an integrated digital environment, Aegea completed Brazil’s largest asset inventory in Rio de Janeiro in record time, identifying nearly 30,000 assets
and approximately 11 million asset attributes, and processing four terabytes of reality capture data with high precision geolocation. The result was a 3D map
that represents over 1,000 sanitation facilities. The 3D map is interactive and continually updated based on the interoperability of Bentley applications with
third-party systems, streamlining data flows while ensuring that all asset data is always current, up to date, and accessible for smart infrastructure management.
“[With this, we] will be able carry out virtual visits to the concessionaire structures throughout the country, facilitating decision-making, and, consequently,
ensuring the population receives the company’s essential services,” said Carvalho.
Through the application of Infra Inteligente and the creation of digital twins in a virtual reality environment, Aegea has real-time asset and plant insight to
monitor equipment health and operation, preventing damage to equipment and piping, enabling digital lifecycle management of sanitation assets. The 3D smart
solution optimizes performance, service availability, and reliability, mitigating risks and achieving operational efficiencies for sustainable clean water supply
to Brazil’s communities. “Aegea constantly invests to improve its services, and technology is a fundamental part of this process,” said Fernando Humphreys,
engineering director of Aegea. “Infra Inteligente provides a range of benefits to the population and reinforces our commitment to offering a service focused on
the continuous improvement of the operation, respecting the characteristics and the sustainable cycle of each region.”
Page 20

Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring Conference & Exhibition
Birmingham, UK
9th - 10th October 2024
WWEM is moving to the Birmingham NEC in 2024. Planning is still underway but the firm favourites like the Flow Forum,
Instrumentation Apprentice Competition and the Learning Zone will be returning as well as some surprises. Watch this space for
updates but what is sure that in its new home in Birmingham the WWEM Conference and Exhibition will be bigger than ever.
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
8th November - Innovative solutions for new flow measurement regulations
IWA Digital Water Summit
Bilbao, Spain
14th -16th November 2023
The highly successful IWA Digital Water Summit returns to Bilbao in November 2023 for its 2nd edition. These dates are provisional
at the moment. The 1st summit highlighted the potential and the 2nd summit will build on the first in November 2023
Sensing in Water 2023
Nottingham, UK
27th -28th September 2023
After its break due to the Covid Pandemic the Sensors in Water Group 2-day conference returns to the Nottingham Belfry to talk
about all things sensing. What this space for more updates
WEX Global 2024
Madrid - Spain
4th -6th March 2024
WEX Global occupies a unique place in the water conference calendar. Business meetings and conversations lie at the heart of WEX,
along with the principle of ‘exchange’; the exchange of ideas and philosophies, of business cards, of solutions, and of methodologies,
to form strong networks on which to build stronger relationships
Page 21
Conferences, Events,
Seminars & Studies
Conferences, Seminars & Events
2022 Conference Calendar

WIPAC Monthly - August 2023.pdf

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WIPAC Monthly - August 2023.pdf