WIPAC Monthly - November & December 2023

WIPAC MONTHLY
The Monthly Update from Water Industry Process Automation & Control
www.wipac.org.uk Issue 11&12/2023- November/December 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 - 15
Digital Transformation of Scottish Infrastructure.......................................................
In this case study from Siemens we see how various Digital Tools and techniques have been used to transform the asset management
within Scottish Water and help them, in part, to achieve another step on their journey towards net zero.
16-18
The rise of sewer network monitoring..........................................................................
In the past ten years sewer network monitoring has gone from very little to a position where the wastewater network is becoming
fully monitored. In this short article by WIPAC Executive Director, originally written for the Foundation for Water Research, we look
at how monitoring has developed and what it is being used for.
19
Data centres straining water resources as Artificial Intelligence swells..........................
In the past few years the use of Artificial Intelligence and more recently its generative form has increased the amount of data centres
that are needed. This has a knock on impact on the amount of water that is used. In this slightly different article this month we have
a look at the impact that AI is having on water resources.
20 - 22
Workshops, conferences & seminars............................................................................
The highlights of the conferences and workshops in the coming months.
23 - 24

From the Editor

How do you sum up a year like 2023? Over the past year it has been difficult to not bang your head against the wall
with regard to the state of the environment and especially the water environment. This month we have seen a water
company give up on its ambition to meet operational net zero by 2030 and the question has to asked - "which one next?"
The ambition of reaching net zero by 2030 was always an ambitious one and arguably not achievable but to aim for
something and miss the target, although not good, at least shows an industry heading in the right direction. If we add to
this the deepening of the overflow scandal in the UK it is quite difficult to keep a positive attitude when working in the
water industry at the current time.
All is not lost though and the industry has a "cunning plan" as Baldrick used to say in Blackadder (I know I am showing
my age) and the £96 billion plan that the industry has proposed is an ambitious plan for the future. From my perspective
the plan should be full of monitoring and Digital Transformation. The art of the possible is actually here and those that
attended the IWA Digital Water Summit in Bilbao would have seen it. The demonstration sessions that I ran at the summit
showed four great software platforms that can help companies towards holistic information management. There were the
first breaths of operational digital twins not just on a specific use-case point of view but on that more holistic approach.
This was the system that I was thinking about very much about 5-8 years ago when I was writing papers and thinking about
intelligent wastewater networks....only on proverbial steroids if done correctly. Not just looking at sewer blockages but
infiltration into the network. What is virtually being achieved here is virtual flow management systems allowing water operators to "see" the blockages, to
"see" the infiltration into the network and be able to plan system interventions well in advance. Powerful and heady stuff, if we actually utilise it.
From the Digital Water Summit in Bilbao I asked several questions of LinkedIn with polls and the question that really hit the mark is whether we have the
Digital Tools in place to achieve at least some form of Digital Transformation. There was a mixed response with some technologists within the industry asking
for more and more tools and some saying that we have enough already. Probably both groups are right insofar as we do have enough tools out in existence
within the industry but not necessarily adapted to the right scenarios. What of course this takes is to use the technical skills within the industry to adapt the
tools to the situation. Digital Transformation is never going to be a one hit sprint and a water company is "Digitally enlightened." This is a story that has already
been played out over the past decade or so. The water company, Global Omnium, developed their Digital Twin over a ten year period and probably are always
developing it for it to provide more and more and more. The same can be seen of all of the great Digital projects out there. They take time to mature and
develop. It would be easy to say - "well if its going to take ten years then we just can't afford to start," but this is something we can't do.
However, like net zero, storm overflow reduction and a whole suite of challenges that the water industry faces at the moment we have to take that first step.
Look at where things are complimentary to each other, look at what's available and crawl before we run. In the UK we are facing a £96 billion bill to operate
the water industry from 2025-30. Facing up to reality it is a programme that we simply do not have the resources to deliver but the opportunities that it brings
in monitoring,control and automation of the industry and using Digital Tools are the stuff of most engineers dreams. The technologists and strategists have to
have a plan of what is at least approximately going to happen and if they do we have at least a slither of a chance to put the industry back on the right track.
The next few years (or decades) if done right are going to be exciting
Have a fantastic festive period,
Oliver

Digital twin for optimizing the carbon balance in wastewater
treatment
Researchers at Aalto are creating a digital model for automatic continuous predictive process simulations supporting wastewater treatment plant operation in
a new project called DIGICARBA. The proposed digital tool will have a wastewater treatment process model connected to continuous data transmission from
the Helsinki wastewater treatment plant.
Energy consumption reduction and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation are one of the top priorities at many wastewater treatment plants regarding upcoming
tightening changes in legislation. Some water pollutants removal, especially nitrogen, requires energy-intensive aeration and a comprehensive operation to
minimize the formation of highly intensive greenhouse gas (GHG) – nitrous oxide emitted by the biological nitrogen removal process. While wastewater
treatment operation performed by water utility already meets current requirements established by the EU Commission, new techniques and approaches to
implementation are required to mitigate energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Studies on GHG emissions hotspots and process control have been performed within the collaboration of Aalto University Water and Environmental Engineering
researchers and Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY. Based on this collaboration, a new project, DIGICARBA, was started in 2023 to create a
digital treatment plant tool to help wastewater treatment operators in process control and optimization.
‘The proposed digital tool will have a wastewater treatment process model connected to continuous data transmission from the Helsinki wastewater treatment
plant to produce predictive simulations. In this case, operators will be able to see the impact of different treatment process changes and decide on the most
suitable one with the lowest carbon footprint, energy consumption, and best effluent quality. Also, the developed tool can be used for new operators’ training’,
tells Ksenija Golovko, a doctoral researcher who works with the project.
The potential digital tool could be used globally as many treatment plants will require carbon balance optimizations in the near future. Therefore, a market
potential study will also be introduced to develop the technology further.
NivuFlow Stick awarded independent verification
NIVUS is delighted to announce that the NivuFlow Stick has received an independent
calibration certificate from METAS, the Federal Institute of Metrology in Switzerland.
“This is a significant achievement,” explains Christian Koch, Head of Product
Management at NIVUS. “The calibration certificate resulted from a series of
stringent tests, and follows the award of a similar verification certificate from NIWA,
the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand.
“We already have regulatory customers as well as water companies, consultancies,
researchers and academia, but third-party verification will provide users with the
assurance that they can now measure flow quickly, easily and accurately; confident
in the knowledge that they are using an accurate, independently tested device.”
The NivuFlow Stick is a simple to use, portable instrument for fast, accurate flow
velocity measurements utilising the ultrasonic cross-correlation measurement
principle. In contrast with traditional methods, this technology is able to measure
water velocities at different water depths simultaneously and with high resolution.
As a result, even relatively unskilled operators are able to derive an accurate flow
velocity curve quickly and easily.
Simple, intuitive operating procedures are driven via smartphone or tablet, and data are both displayed in real-time and shared on-site via WLAN. Importantly,
any deviations in measurement quality by the NivuFlow Stick are also displayed, and this quality indication is stored with the data.
The system contains no wearing parts and is maintenance-free, and with lightweight components, handling in the water is effortless and safe. The NivuFlow Stick
is therefore ideal for discharge measurements in streams and small rivers, as well as for checking the accuracy of fixed flow monitoring equipment.
Summarising, Christian Koch says: “The speed and simplicity of the NivuFlow Stick offer major advantages to customers looking to migrate their instruments from
more traditional methods such as ADCP and acoustic doppler. The new verification certificates will therefore provide users with the assurance that they can exploit
the benefits, whilst also achieving the required levels of accuracy.”
Page 4
Industry News

Siemens acquires BuntPlanet to strengthen its artificial intelligence
portfolio in the water sector
Siemens has announced the acquisition of BuntPlanet, a technology company based in San Sebastian, Spain. BuntPlanet’s award winning software has been
deployed around the world to support customers with smart metering solutions, water quality, asset management, and integration of hydraulic models and
artificial intelligence for detecting leaks and other anomalies in water networks. Siemens has had a licensing agreement with BuntPlanet since 2019 to sell their
leakage detection software known as SIWA LeakPlus. With this acquisition, BuntPlanet’s entire offering and team will be integrated with Siemens’ application
portfolio for water utilities making it even more comprehensive for water customers.
“We are excited to welcome the BuntPlanet team to Siemens and strengthen our software portfolio for the water industry," says Axel Lorenz, CEO of Process
Automation at Siemens. "The digitalization of the water industry is key to tackling current and future challenges of the global water supply. This acquisition will
enable us to provide our customers with a more integrated and comprehensive solution for managing their water networks."
Aihnoa Lete, CEO at BuntPlanet, says: “By joining Siemens, we are becoming part of a team that is leading the digital revolution globally. We are excited about
the growth that this closer relationship will bring.”
BuntPlanet’s core offering, BuntBrain, is a software platform with solutions for leak detection, water quality improvement, end-use water analysis, water
loss reduction, asset management, digital twin and water meter management. The application includes the latest advances in Artificial Intelligence, big data,
and hydraulic simulation to pre-locate leaks and other anomalies, minimizing risk of damage to infrastructure and reducing operational and maintenance
costs. With proven integration with Siemens Measurement Intelligence hardware portfolio the combination of sector leading instrumentation and software
has demonstrated detection of leaks as small as 0.25 liter per second. For instance, Siemens customer VA Syd, a Swedish water company, developed a smart
leakage detection system based on the AI-powered SIWA LeakPlus application provided by Siemens.
Since December 1st, 2023, BuntPlanet is a 100 percent subsidiary of Siemens Spain. The company is assigned organizationally to Siemens Digital Industries
and part of the Process Automation Business Unit. Once the integration has fully concluded, Siemens will make BuntPlanet’s offering also available on its open
business platform, Siemens Xcelerator.
Page 5

ThamesWaterlaunchesnewonlinetoolandinteractivemapforpublic
to report operational and pollution issues
Thames Water has launched a online tool and new interactive map for members of the public to report and pinpoint locations experiencing operational issues
across London and the Thames Valley. The water company is making it easier and quicker for members of the public to report sewer flooding, blockages or leaks
across London and the Thames Valley, following the launch of a new reporting tool and interactive map on its website.
The public can now report a range of problems online, from either their desktop or on the go via their mobile phone. For the first time members of the public
will have the ability to view and report potential pollutions, sewer flooding and other issues online – users will also be able to upload photos and videos.
They can also report pollutions using the new map as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to transparency and to help protect rivers and streams.
With graphics and help guides available, users will also be able to use the site to easily narrow down the nature of the problem they are experiencing or have
witnessed.
Users can then report the problem, upload photos and videos and provide a location by using the interactive map, which contains boundary lines and property
numbers, to pinpoint the exact location of the problem.
They will also be able use the map to view all planned maintenance work going on in their area, including details of traffic and roadwork updates so motorists
can better plan their journeys.
Once reported, the company’s operational software will schedule for the issue to be investigated and where necessary fixed by Thames Water engineers.
Members of the public will receive a case reference number and users will be able to receive progress alerts and updates. David Bird, retail director at Thames
Water said:
“We’re delighted our new online map has gone live. As a company we are committed to connecting with our 15 million customers and improving the service
we provide to them. With this new tool, customers can report issues in a fast and simple manner that works for them.
“We’re also excited members of the public are now able to report pollutions they spot online. Our aim will always be to try and do the right thing for our rivers
and we’re grateful to anyone who takes the initiative to tell us about a possible pollution.
"Time can sometimes be a crucial factor in turning a minor issue into a major one. We’re making it as quick and easy as possible for people to report something
when they see it, because the sooner we can get to a problem the better.”
Yorkshire Water uses innovative technique to install new valve with
live sewers at Knostrop WwTW
Yorkshire Water has used an innovative new technique at its largest wastewater treatment works in Yorkshire to install a new valve with live sewers running
throughout the process. The company’s Knostrop Wastewater Treatment Works in Leeds, treats the wastewater of almost one million people at a rate of 5,600
litres per second.
To accommodate the new flow from the pumping station, a new valve had to be installed. Rather than turn off the sewer, drain it and divert the flow to carry
out the replacement, the valve was instead installed using a hot-tapping method, which involved installing an outer saddle onto the pipework and connecting
on a new valve.
The cutting tool then secures onto the valve and cut into the live pipe and once the cut is complete, the cutting tool retracts until the valve is shut to ensure
no leakage occurs.
The new line of pipework was then connected to the valve and the process was complete.
Using the hot-tapping technique and adding an additional valve also moves Knostrop towards the water industry national environment programme (WINEP)
targets. The ongoing works will ensure Phosphorus concentrations in the final effluent meet the targets set for Yorkshire Water.
Joe Johnson, programme delivery manager said:
“This was a high-risk task, as we were carrying out work on an asset that is fully functioning. It’s the first time we’ve tried something like this.
“The process of connecting a valve ordinarily would be a lot more time consuming, as we would have to drain the pipe, set up a temporary pipe that would
require diesel to pump and then the work can be carried out, before returning the wastewater flow back into the original pipe.
“There are more opportunities for things to go wrong when you divert the flow, and this technique has not only mitigated this, but it’s also saved time, and
we’re really pleased with how successful this has been.
“As well as saving time, we also did our bit for the environment as we didn’t need to use a diesel pump or have the pump transported in and out of Knostrop.”
Page 6

An interdisciplinary research team from the University of Waterloo is using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify micro-plastics faster and more accurately than
ever before. Micro-plastics are commonly found in food and are dangerous pollutants that cause severe environmental damage – finding them is the key to
getting rid of them.
The research team’s advanced imaging identification system could help wastewater treatment plants and food production industries make informed decisions
to mitigate the potential impact of micro-plastics on the environment and human health. A comprehensive risk analysis and action plan requires quality
information based on accurate identification. In search of a robust analytical tool that could enumerate, identify and describe the many micro-plastics that
exist, project lead Dr. Wayne Parker and his team, employed an advanced spectroscopy method which exposes particles to a range of wavelengths of light.
Different types of plastics produce different signals in response to the light exposure. These signals are like fingerprints that can also be employed to mark
particles as micro-plastic or not.
The challenge researchers often find is that micro-plastics come in wide varieties due to the presence of manufacturing additives and fillers that can blur the
“fingerprints” in a lab setting. This makes identifying micro-plastics from organic material, as well as the different types of micro-plastics, often difficult. Human
intervention is usually required to dig out subtle patterns and cues, which is slow and prone to error.
“Micro-plastics are hydrophobic materials that can soak up other chemicals,” said Parker, a professor in Waterloo’s Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering. “Science is still evolving in terms of how bad the problem is, but it’s theoretically possible that micro-plastics are enhancing the accumulation of
toxic substances in the food chain.”
Parker approached Dr. Alexander Wong, a professor in Waterloo’s Department of Systems Design Engineering and the Canada Research Chair in Artificial
Intelligence and Medical Imaging for assistance. With his help, the team developed an AI tool called PlasticNet that enables researchers to rapidly analyse large
numbers of particles approximately 50 per cent faster than prior methods and with 20 per cent more accuracy. The tool is the latest sustainable technology
designed by Waterloo researchers to protect our environment and engage in research that will contribute to a sustainable future.
“We built a deep learning neural network to enhance micro-plastic identification from the spectroscopic signals,” said Wong. “We trained it on data from
existing literature sources and our own generated images to understand the varied make-up of micro-plastics and spot the differences quickly and correctly—
regardless of the fingerprint quality.”
Parker’s former PhD student, Frank Zhu, tested the system on micro-plastics isolated from a local wastewater treatment plant. Results show that it can identify
micro-plastics with unprecedented speed and accuracy. This information can empower treatment plants to implement effective measures to control and
eliminate these substances. The next steps involve continued learning and testing, as well as feeding the PlasticNet system more data to increase the quality
of its micro-plastics identification capabilities for application across a broad range of needs.
Using AI To Find Micro-plastics
Anglian Water extends Arqiva contract to deliver additional 300,000
smart water meters
Arqiva, a leading global media services and utilities communications infrastructure provider, has been awarded an extension to its contract with Anglian
Water to deliver a further 300,000 connected smart water meters between now and 2025. Building on the ongoing success of a smart water meter network
partnership which began in 2020, the extension will allow Anglian Water to continue to improve network monitoring, identify and reduce leakages, and
engage with customers to modify behaviour and help them reduce consumption. Secured following a competitive process, the network extension delivered
under the agreement will ensure that around 97% of the properties identified in Anglian Water’s original plan for smart water metering (detailed in their AMP7
submission) are covered by a smart water meter network.
Areas benefiting from the extension include Milton Keynes, Bury St Edmunds and Braintree.
In addition, due to the position of the infrastructure, the installed network will be available to some adjacent areas which weren’t due to have access to smart
water meters until the next wave of the roll out.
The knock-on effect of fixing plumbing and service pipe leaks is an average reduction of 10 litres per household per day (l/hh/d) in the Anglian Water area.
The impact of the leakage fixes alone means Anglian has saved 3 mega litres per day (MLD) on average over the 3 years since it began installing smart meters
- meaning less abstraction from rivers and underground aquifers and more water left in the environment.
Arqiva delivers the smart water meter network for Anglian in partnership with global water technology company Sensus, a Xylem brand. The network leverages
Sensus’ two-way FlexNet® communication network solution and smart metrology across Arqiva’s dedicated private 412MHz licensed spectrum.
Mike Smith, Executive Director, Smart Utilities Networks, Arqiva said:
“The introduction of smart water metering has been an unqualified success story for Anglian Water and shows incredible potential for the industry as a whole.
The recent National Infrastructure Commission report has further set out the undeniable benefits. Our own research has highlighted these benefits across
the board, from identifying leaks to reducing per capita consumption and even lowering carbon emissions. We have always believed that it is a no regret
investment, but to hear how much Anglian and its customers have benefitted thus far is fantastic.
“Complete data is key to all this. Having reliable visibility on how and where supply is being used, and lost, is the fundamental first step.
Page 7

Anglian Water Expands Transformative AI Technology Trial
Following the successful pilot of its digital asset management technology with Anglian Water, Norwegian digital analytics company, InfoTiles, is embarking on an
expanded proof of concept programme. The on-going collaboration with the UK utility will use its artificial intelligence (AI) driven software to manage roughly
317 biofilters, along with pumps and valves, and will be extended from 24 sites to 100. The continued partnership establishes the ambition that Anglian Water
will be able to move towards fully integrating the InfoTiles technology to enhance day-to-day operational visibility.
As the proof-of-concept programme continues to prove the benefits of the solution, full integration will create better-informed asset management decision-
making and allow for further understanding of maintenance prioritisation of water recycling assets. Approximately 483 data points will be measured across all
assets included in the scale-up. The water recycling centres will be chosen based on current model predictions and for their ability to send relevant asset data
to the InfoTiles software.
Additionally, many of the sites vary in terms of system design and scale, which demonstrates that InfoTiles is effective across different geographical locations
within Anglian Water’s region.
The initial 12-month pilot of InfoTiles’ software monitored the rotating arms of 76 biofilters at 24 sites over a period of six months, to assess whether they were
rotating when needed. It also measured sludge blanket levels in final settlement tanks to monitor optimal ranges for effective operation.
The data was collected through a mix of new and existing sensors via supervisory control and data acquisition control (SCADA) systems. This was combined with
flow rates and publicly available weather data, to build a rich contextual overview of what was happening at Anglian’s water recycling plants in real-time. What is
more, InfoTiles also combined Anglian Water’s existing SCADA systems into one event-streaming platform that aggregated, compared, and visualised reliability
of the equipment. The strength of the InfoTiles platform is the ability to visualise and model process data through machine-learning to show the likelihood of
critical failures in wastewater treatment, such as potential stoppages and breakdowns.
When fully integrated, this will allow Anglian Water to easily trial and compare different sensor technologies for reliability and accuracy. During the initial
pilot phase, 14 machine-learning models were used to identify biofilter deviations and identify whether failure or slowdown was imminent. Four models were
selected and brought forward for further development due to their ability to scale. As a result of the pilot and the extended proof of concept Anglian Water,
one of the UK’s largest water utilities, can set its ambitions on anticipating, detecting, and resolving potential problems. By continually assessing the health and
effectiveness of assets, maintenance teams could be deployed much more efficiently in the future.
Adam Wood, chief product officer at InfoTiles said, “Working with the operations team at Anglian Water has given us critical feedback to improve our platform
and its ability to give operations teams actionable insights. A key learning has been the development of methods to leverage the data our utility customers
already have available, which is important when considering relevance to assets in use throughout the UK.”
The initial trial has shown promising signs of the feasibility of the technology for Anglian Water, with the data analysis already providing better insights. This is
because, at fully operating capacity, the InfoTiles technology can reduce the number of active alarms by alerting operatives to issues before they become critical
emergencies.
Anglian Water’s main goal of the collaboration is to apply InfoTiles to reduce the risk of biofilter failure and therefore augment its efforts to prevent the
occurrence of serious pollution events from its water recycling centres. A further goal is to optimise the use of operational resources by reducing the number
of emergency callouts during evenings and weekends and enabling maintenance decisions based on facts and forward planning. During the scale-up stage over
the next 12 months, InfoTiles will be working with Anglian Water personnel to further adapt its preventative maintenance processes and on-board internal data
scientists to transfer knowledge of the InfoTiles user platform and data analysis.
The success of the pilot programme goes beyond demonstrating the feasibility of the InfoTiles technology, it also shows the value in water utilities working with
start-up and scale-up technology companies to find solutions to the most pressing problems within the sector.
InfoTiles has an established outcome driven and iterative method which takes a holistic approach, working in close collaboration with partners from initial
scoping period to full implementation of the technology, which can take anywhere from six to 18 months, ensuring robust testing and long-term results.
The two companies were brought together through WaterStart, a US-based membership platform, which seeks to remove common barriers to the adoption of
innovative technologies and connects utilities and municipalities with solution providers globally.
"Anglian Water is so proud to be involved in the success of the pilot programme, which will transform the way we manage our water recycling sites,” said Mark
Stirling at Anglian Water. “Collaborating with international companies through WaterStart has helped the team to work at pace to find and integrate solutions
to improve the service provided."
Nathan Allen, executive director at WaterStart, said, “InfoTiles has proven the feasibility of its technology with Anglian Water and WaterStart is thrilled to
support the company’s continued expansion into the UK water sector. Effective data management is a global challenge for water utilities, and it is exciting to see
the outcomes of the pilot and the scalability among our global membership base.”
Page 8

Exploitation Of Unitronics PLCs Used In Water And Wastewater
Systems
CISA is responding to active exploitation of Unitronics programmable logic controllers (PLCs) used in the Water and Wastewater Systems (WWS) Sector. Cyber
threat actors are targeting PLCs associated with WWS facilities, including an identified Unitronics PLC, at a U.S. water facility. In response, the affected municipality’s
water authority immediately took the system offline and switched to manual operations—there is no known risk to the municipality’s drinking water or water
supply.
WWS Sector facilities use PLCs to control and monitor various stages and processes of water and wastewater treatment, including turning on and off pumps at a
pump station to fill tanks and reservoirs, flow pacing chemicals to meet regulations, gathering compliance data for monthly regulation reports, and announcing
critical alarms to operations.
Attempts to compromise WWS integrity via unauthorized access threaten the ability of WWS facilities to provide clean, potable water to, and effectively manage
the wastewater of, their communities.
The cyber threat actors likely accessed the affected device—a Unitronics Vision Series PLC with a Human Machine Interface (HMI)—by exploiting cybersecurity
weaknesses, including poor password security and exposure to the internet. To secure WWS facilities against this threat, CISA urges organizations to:
• Change all default passwords on PLCs and HMIs and use a strong password. Ensure the Unitronics PLC default password “1111” is not in use.
• Require multifactor authentication for all remote access to the OT network, including from the IT network and external networks.
• Disconnect the PLC from the open internet. If remote access is necessary, control network access to the PLC.
• Implement a Firewall/VPN in front of the PLC to control network access to the remote PLC. A VPN or gateway device can enable
multifactor authentication for remote access even if the PLC does not support multifactor authentication. Unitronics also has a secure
cellular based longhaul transport device that is secure to their cloud services.
• Use an allowlist of IPs for access.
• Back up the logic and configurations on any Unitronics PLCs to enable fast recovery. Become familiar with the process for factory resetting
and deploying configurations to a device in the event of being hit by ransomware.
• If possible, utilize a TCP port that is different than the default port TCP 20256. Cyber actors are actively targeting TCP 20256 after identifying
it through network probing as a port associated to Unitronics PLC. Once identified, they leverage scripts specific to PCOM/TCP to query and
validate the system, allowing for further probing and connection. If available, use PCOM/TCP filters to parse out the packets.
• Update PLC/HMI to the latest version provided by Unitronics.
SmartCover Systems Acquires Data Flow Systems
SmartCover Systems (“SmartCover”), a portfolio company of XPV Water Partners and the North American market share leader in real-time sewer and storm-
water collection system monitoring and optimization technology, today announced it has completed the acquisition of Data Flow Systems (“Data Flow”).
More frequent extreme weather events are accelerating the need for SmartCover and Data Flow’s technologies, both of which play a key role in climate change
mitigation and adaptation. With this acquisition, SmartCover—which has helped prevent tens of thousands of harmful sewer spills and is saving its customers
millions of dollars per year—adds the ability to monitor and control lift stations, which are an important point of vulnerability in collection systems. The
combined company has more than 20,000 smart devices deployed, supporting more than 850 customers in North America.
Based in Melbourne, FL, Data Flow offers an end-to-end approach from design to implementation with ongoing support of software, hardware, and
communications for utilities of any size looking to securely monitor and control their lift stations and associated outside the fence assets. Using its proprietary
software, Data Flow can also provide the ability to optimize lift station pumping operations in real time based on network conditions, an offering that delivers
significant energy savings while helping extend the life of pumps. David Walker, President of Data Flow, said, “We embrace the opportunity to become part of
the SmartCover family. This strategic move allows us to broaden our reach and enhance our solution offerings, all while maintaining our commitment to deliver
reliable solutions for critical systems with a demonstrated return on investment.”
“The acquisition of Data Flow aligns with our vision to deliver continuous visibility throughout the entirety of the collection system, spanning from monitoring
to control across gravity and pressure pipes to lift stations,” said Corey Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, SmartCover. “We are pleased to
welcome the company to our team.” Data Flow is SmartCover’s first acquisition since partnering with XPV Water Partners and is consistent with the company’s
plans to build on its position as a trusted partner for North American utilities.
Page 9

The iVapps Solution Proving Its Worth At The Water Research Centre
(WRc)
Water distribution system operators need to identify issues within their networks efficiently and accurately. They also need to be able to fix them when they
occur most efficiently. In many cases, this means the creation of control points so a certain section of the network can be isolated without shutting off the flow
to large groups of water users.
UK Water Utilities face substantial fines, or are told to reduce water bills, should they leave customers without a water supply for longer than an agreed period,
so the ability to negatively affect their customers is vital. On top of this challenge, operators also set themselves the challenge of delivering a net zero water
supply for customers by 2030 – 20 years ahead of the UK Government’s legally binding target of 2050. iVapps has engineered a system which enables water
system operators to use their redesigned standard valve body (PORTAL) what can hold rapidly interchangeable cartridges loaded with sensors or an isolation
valve.
The interchangeable SMART cartridge houses whatever sensors the customer chooses to identify when and where there is an issue in the line As and when
required, the SMART cartridge is removed and replaced with the VALVE cartridge to form a control point. This stays in place for the period required to carry out
the necessary work on the line, after which it is replaced with the SMART cartridge.
The iVapps PORTAL is a recognisable body meaning no specialist training is required to install it, and it has also been proven to assist in the drive to reduce
carbon production.
An independent report by Tunley Engineering found that ‘Incorporating iVapps products in water utility networks provides a substantial advantage in facilitating
water utility companies' transition towards Carbon Neutrality (Net Zero).’
Assuming 50 systems are installed in a network, the following savings are made over the life of the product: Driving 233,180 miles in an average diesel vehicle,
Burning 46,216 kg of coal of charging 11.06 million smartphones.
The challenge to iVapps
iVapps engineers have been perfecting their system for the past five years and are in the process of bringing their solution to market.
The company is faced with the challenge of introducing a new and disruptive technology to an industry that has changed very little over the decades it has
been in operation. Across much of the water industry, there is an ethos that is anti-change with many operators reluctant to try new technologies as they focus
on their immediate challenges.
iVapps needed to find a way to get its solution in front of water system operators.
The WRc is a globally recognised organisation that is at the forefront of introducing new technologies to the water industry. It delivers a range of services from
drone pipeline inspection to waste lab services.
iVapps leaders knew they needed to test and showcase their solution and approached WRc to form a partnership.
iVapps CEO Simon Humphreys said: “We carried out extensive research when developing our solution and have the PORTAL and SMART cartridge in place at
several test locations around the world. But we knew we also needed to have the system up and running at a location where we could bring industry leaders
to witness it working.”
iVapps worked with WRc’s Andy Godley and arranged for three PORTALs to be mounted on its flow loop, an above-ground pipeline that runs for 40 meters and
simulates a real-life water network thanks to its fluctuating pipe size and range of valves and metering equipment installed on the loop.
The three portals have been in place for 6 months and enable iVapps to bring industry professionals to the Swindon site where they can see first-hand how the
iVapps solution works.
“Having a permanent installation of the system is vital for us as we understand that professionals need to see the system in place to truly understand how it
works,” Simon said. “So far, we have held three demonstration days at the WRc and been able to use the loop to simulate leaks and breaks which has enabled
us to show our customers just how our sensors accurately identify, and measure flow drop and water loss. We have also been able to demonstrate the simple
process of removing a SMART cartridge and installing a VALVE cartridge to form a control point exactly where it is needed.”
Andy added: “The WRc is here to discover and deliver new and exciting solutions that enable the water industry to meet its challenges. We have not seen
anything like the iVapps solution before so we’re keen to assist in showcasing its potential to the water industry.”
Page 10

United Utilities selects six new partners Innovation Lab 5
New ideas to save water and energy, generate renewable energy and develop sustainable concrete have all been selected for further development in United
Utilities’ latest Innovation Lab. The UK water company has announced the six winners of its highly respected global hunt for innovations to transform the water
sector. The selection comes after an extensive search from over 600 suppliers.
The winning ideas will now be developed during the next 14 weeks in partnership with United Utilities, giving the innovators unrivalled access to the company’s
expertise, processes, data and resources to help co-develop and enhance their products.
Four of the six winners are from the UK, alongside companies from Sweden and Canada; in addition, five are new to the UK water sector.
United Utilities’ idea development programme is run in conjunction with L Marks and has successfully launched new suppliers and new innovations into the
water market since it began in 2017. So far, United Utilities has awarded long term contracts with eight suppliers and created forty-five new jobs, many of them
in the North West.
United Utilities Head of Innovation Kieran Brocklebank said:
“We’re now in our fifth lab programme and once again we have all been incredibly impressed by the brilliance of the ideas and early concepts that come our
way from all over the world. Our success from previous labs means that all companies have potential to grow their business and work with us for many years to
come. In addition we will promote these ideas across the sector to other water companies globally.
“We searched high and low for solutions to deliver environmental and efficiency benefits and ensure we deliver the best value for our customers. We’re really
looking forward to partnering with all the chosen suppliers and co-creating with them for the benefit of everyone in the water sector.”
The six winning suppliers will test their products and have sector-wide potential to help to reduce risk of leakage and flooding, reduce carbon footprints and
save water:
Atmos International from Manchester has been working in the oil, gas and chemical industries since 1995 and will now work with United Utilities to test and
develop pipeline technologies for better performance and monitoring of water and waste pipes, including leakage detection.
Aqua Robur Technologies from Sweden provides monitoring solutions for water distribution and sewer networks, including an energy harvester which uses the
water flow as the only energy source. They are one of the few companies in the world that can deliver real-time data from all parts of the network, even where
there is no access to electricity of fixed data communication.
Graphene Green Concrete, based at the University of Manchester, is a sustainable concrete material which adds a tiny amount of graphene admixture, to enable
recycled aggregates from demolished concrete constructions to be reused on the same site in new construction without compromising on cost and performance
of the construction. It uses 100% recycled aggregates and has comparable properties as traditional concrete.
Maid Labs Technologies from Canada provides innovative high quality flow meter and diagnostic products, which allow real-time diagnostics to save time,
energy and money to increase the efficiency of wastewater pump stations.
Save Water Save Money from Banbury bring a potential solution to leaking toilets that use too much water. Through the Innovation Lab they will develop a
universal leak-free fix to tackle leaky toilets in residential and commercial properties.
Bluemethane from London is developing technology to capture methane from water, as a new source of power and revenue. This will permanently remove
methane from water, reduce global warming and support the energy transition by unlocking a new source of bio-methane.
The six companies will now spend 14 intensive weeks with United Utilities before presenting their final products at a demonstration day in February. After that,
they will agree the best relationship for the long term.
Aberdeenshire firm Altitude Thinking took part in Innovation Lab 4 and developed its use of drones to access difficult to reach assets – including rapid water
quality sampling. Success through the Lab led to a contract leading to the UK’s first accredited process for water quality sampling using drones.
Another UK company FIDO Tech took part in Innovation Lab 2 and its leakage detection solutions are now up and running at United Utilities and also being used
around the world. United Utilities is also still working with three companies from Lab 3 in 2020
Page 11

Google's 'a passage of water' brings NASA's water data to life
As part of the long-standing partnership between NASA and Google, NASA worked with Google Arts & Culture and artist Yiyun Kang to create an interactive
digital experience around global freshwater resources titled “A Passage of Water.” This immersive experience leverages data from the Gravity Recovery and
Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites and new high-resolution data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to illustrate how climate
change is impacting Earth’s water cycle.
A digital version of “A Passage of Water” will be released online on Thursday, Nov. 30, ahead of the beginning of the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference
of Parties (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Google also will host a physical installation of the visualization project in the Blue Zone at COP 28.
“NASA is the U.S. space agency that provides end-to-end research about our home planet, and it is our job to inform the world about what we learn,” said Kate
Calvin, NASA’s chief scientist and senior climate advisor in Washington. “Highlighting our Earth science data in the installation of ‘A Passage of Water’ is a unique
way to share information, in a digestible way, around the important connection between climate change and the Earth’s water cycle.”
“NASA studies our home planet and its interconnected systems more than any other planet in our universe,” said Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth
Science Division. “‘A Passage of Water’ provides an opportunity to highlight the public availability of SWOT data and other NASA Earth science data to tell
meaningful stories, improve awareness, and help everyday people who have to make real decisions in their homes, businesses, and communities.”
A collaboration between NASA and the French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales), SWOT is measuring the height of nearly all water on
Earth’s surface, providing one of the most detailed, comprehensive views yet of the planet’s freshwater bodies. SWOT provides insights into how the ocean
influences climate change and how a warming world affects lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
“The detail that SWOT is providing on the world’s oceans and fresh water is game-changing. We’re only just getting started with respect to data from this
satellite, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the information takes us,” said Ben Hamlington, a research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Southern California.
The Google project also uses data from the GRACE and GRACE Follow-On missions –the former is a joint effort between NASA and the German Aerospace Center
(DLR), while the latter is a collaboration between NASA and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). GRACE tracked localized changes to Earth’s
mass distribution, caused by phenomena including the movement of water across the planet from 2002 to 2017. GRACE-FO came online in 2018 and is currently
in operation. As with GRACE before it, the GRACE-FO mission monitors changes in ice sheets and glaciers, near-surface and underground water storage, the
amount of water in large lakes and rivers, as well as changes in sea level and ocean currents, providing an integrated view of how Earth’s water cycle and energy
balance are evolving.
“A Passage of Water” is the most recent digital experience created under NASA’s Space Act Agreement with Google, with resulting content to be made widely
available to the public free of charge on Google’s web platforms. This collaboration is part of a six-project agreement series that aims to share NASA’s content
with audiences in new and engaging ways.
How can we evaluate the quality of global water models?
A new international study has tested the extent to which global water models agree with one another and with observational data. Using a new evaluation
approach, the research team, which includes IIASA researchers, can show in which climate regions the models agree and where they differ. Global water
models are essential tools for understanding the water cycle. Probably the most important use of these models at present is to understand the impacts of
climate change. Our society is experiencing many of these impacts through changes in water extremes such as increasing droughts and floods, which pose
growing threats to people and ecosystems. But there are also changes in general water availability, for example soil moisture, which is relevant for agriculture
or groundwater recharge, which is important for the sustainable use of groundwater.
However, inconsistencies between the results of different global water models make such model-based conclusions uncertain. These differences have not yet
been fully quantified and previous evaluation approaches have provided limited information on how the models could be improved. The new study, published
in Nature Water, is the first to use large-scale relationships between climatic and hydrological variables to reveal differences between models and in comparison
to observational data.
"In observational data, for example, we see a strong correlation between precipitation and groundwater recharge over the African continent. Not all models
represent this relationship accurately and we need to understand how realistic different model results are," explains study lead author Sebastian Gnann, who
worked on the study while associated with the University of Potsdam.
Peter Burek and Yoshihide Wada, both associated with the Water Security Research Group in the IIASA Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program, contributed
to the water cycle representation of global models in the study using the IIASA Community Water Model (CWatM)—an open source model developed for the
assessment of water supply and human and environmental water demands at both global and regional levels.
"The Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP) is not only a great way to compare and frame the uncertainties associated with global water
models but also to bring all our models a step further by looking at the functional relationships," notes Burek.
Relationships between climatic and hydrological variables—so-called functional relationships—provide an overview of how the global water cycle functions.
How much does groundwater recharge depend on precipitation and how strong is the influence of other factors, such as geology? Answers to such questions
are enormously important, but they are often missing for large areas of the land surface, which is also reflected in inconsistencies between models. In addition
to groundwater recharge, these inconsistencies are particularly large for processes that describe the energy balance at the land surface, and across processes
in dry and cold regions.
The researchers note that they are looking for new methods to evaluate these immensely important models, to on the one hand inform decision makers about
how reliable the model results are, but also to help model developers improve the models. If the robustness of model predictions can be better quantified, the
relevance and utility of these models will increase. They conclude that functional relationships offer the potential for fundamental advances in global hydrology
and should be a renewed focus of hydrological research, especially for model evaluation.
Page 12

SUEZ & ASTERRA secure contract with Portsmouth Water for
Satellite Leak Detection Technology
SUEZ, leader in circular and digital solutions in waste and water services, in collaboration with technology partner ASTERRA UK, has been selected to provide
satellite leak detection services to Portsmouth Water over the next year, with initial results looking promising to extend the partnership over an additional
4 years. The solution, which scans large sections of the network twice a year, including distribution and trunk mains, helps deliver on Portsmouth Water’s
commitment to reduce water leaks by half by 2040, ten years earlier than the current government target.
The service provided to Portsmouth Water uses patented satellite-mounted Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology to detect water leaks as deep as 3
metres below ground, with a single scan covering up to 3,500 sq.km., efficiently optimising repair planning. Its precise algorithms identify distinct water leakage
patterns, offering geographic information system (GIS) data files, which are overlaid with the system owners’ pipe layer to create a ‘highlighted pipe’ image.
The first set of results delivered in September 2023 revealed impressive outcomes of 43 leaks detected from the first 55 Points of Interest (POI’s).
Satellite leak detection is a key component to comprehensively prevent, reduce, and efficiently detect leakages within water networks. Proved to be non-
invasive, cost-effective, and scalable, the cutting-edge technology identifies more leaks daily than conventional methods, and significantly improves field crew
efficiency by over 300%. So far, SUEZ and ASTERRA have helped scan over 260,000km of drinking water pipes, saving 83M L/D (million litres per day).
The focus from the satellite technology is to reduce leakage on our non-ferrous network and strategic trunk mains, where our acoustics are not as reliable, and
this proactive approach has already yielded some good early results
Sole providers of this technology in the UK, SUEZ, along with ASTERRA, have a long history of successful satellite leak detection service for UK water utilities and
have recently expand the service to detect ex-filtration in wastewater networks.
Jim Barker, Head of Water Resources at Portsmouth Water Limited, said: “We have been really encouraged by the start that we’ve made with our investigations
into the Points of Interest, and look forward to building on our early success. We have invested heavily in our Acoustic Fixed Network over the last 5 years,
which monitors around 90% of our ferrous network. The focus from the satellite technology is to reduce leakage on our non-ferrous network and strategic trunk
mains, where our acoustics are not as reliable, and this proactive approach has already yielded some good early results”.
Connor Foxall, UK Sales Channel Manager at ASTERRA, said: "It's great to be working with Portsmouth Water, in supporting their leak detection program to
allow their field crews to locate more leaks and help drive down background, hard to find leakage. ASTERRA look forward to working closely together and
building a long-term relationship."
Nick Haskins, Business Development Manager at SUEZ, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract and very much look forward to working
together with Portsmouth Water. Acting as the trusted partner of our clients to support them across the waste value chain is the core mission of SUEZ.
Thus, building long-term relationships with the supply chain will be key in the coming years if we are going to meet the challenging targets set by regulators.
Introducing innovative solutions requires trust between supplier, the client, and the teams on the ground, which has been the key in this exciting project.”
Page 13

the overall health of our river environments whilst also allowing us to understand, in almost real time, the level of pollution being contributed by which polluter
and where to target the Environment Agencies limited resources in policing environmental quality.
What is evident is the amount of monitoring has increased exponentially over the past decade and is set to increase even further over the next decade. This
will hopefully have the outcome of the enabling both the regulators and the water companies as well as other polluters the opportunity to restore our precious
river environments.
What Is The Right Pace For Digital Transformation?
When thinking about digital transformation, many water utilities imagine a radical overhaul of operations and a significant increase in productivity and other
gains. While this can and does happen, it rarely happens overnight. In truth, the digital journey is a marathon, not a sprint.
As insights from Xylem’s recent paper Ripple Effect: A Movement Towards Digital Transformation reveal, utilities are more likely to succeed if they map out
big-picture goals and then start with small projects. This requires focusing on what quality data can deliver upfront and building thoughtfully on each success.
The critical nature of the service that water utilities provide means that many are reasonably risk-averse. However, this aversion sometimes inhibits operators
from experimenting. While no one wants to put their job or the health of their community on the line, it is important for water utilities to take calculated risks
when it comes to applying digital tools. It therefore falls on leadership to overcommunicate what is acceptable and demonstrate it.
It also means focusing on small projects that address the highest pain points for operators and/or customers. After listening to team members, leadership
should chart pain points and figure out how difficult it is to make an improvement. This offers the opportunity to balance risk with achievability and outcome
value.
The quality of data directly impacts the efficacy of digital solutions and the overall success of the transformation. Quality data must be accurate, complete,
consistent, and timely. Operators can verify the quality and reliability of data by cross-referencing with multiple sources, performing historical analyses, and
conducting operational validation. If data is found to be unreliable, operators have options. They can perform data cleansing to rectify inaccuracies, redundancies,
or incompleteness. Source verification can help identify data sources that are consistently providing questionable data, which may necessitate taking them
offline or upgrading the system.
At many utilities, data verification and purification are some of the first projects to be undertaken in the digital journey. However, it is important to realize that
data need not be perfect in order to proceed. Even with the best data, the first plan is always going to be the least effective. But with focus and dedication, every
project can result in a growing understanding that will improve the subsequent project. This is the purpose of starting small. Models will get more accurate over
time, and predictions will get more precise, allowing for future adjustments to equipment and processes within the utility.
Of course, pressure will come from stakeholders to deliver the best results. This is where leadership needs to step in and encourage a mindset shift, while
advocating for operators and for the project’s pace.
While challenges such as water scarcity and climate change are pressuring utilities to be more efficient, it’s critical to remember that there is no immediate
deadline. Utilities must set a pace that works with their budget, their comfort level, and their current stage in the digital journey.
The city of Evansville, IN, has invested incrementally in technology and its people to deliver significant operational and environmental gains. Over time, the
utility has added instrumentation, improved communications systems, and cultivated a strong culture of innovation.
Today, Evansville is implementing sophisticated real-time monitoring, control, and automation algorithms to reduce sewer overflows, labour costs, and energy
consumption. But it did not seek to achieve all of this at once. Projects began small decades ago based on a strategic vision. Its capital expenditures were
incremental, and each step built on the achievements of those that came before it.
By understanding the current environment, and conceptualizing a vision for the future, French utility Angers Loire Métropole found the right pace of change
for its digital transformation. This has enabled the utility to build incrementally, aligning each investment to its strategic priorities and available resources and
showing progress at every stage.
For Angers Loire Métropole, digital water efforts are part of a broader journey to transform how community services are delivered. Since 2019, the region’s
local authority has embraced a smart city model focused on optimizing urban services by using sensors and data analysis. The application of digital technology
in water and wastewater is a key element of the region’s plan to deliver more sustainable and cost-effective services for citizens.
Digital transformations are journeys that should not be rushed. By focusing on quality data, setting achievable goals, and staying true to a strategic vision, water
utilities can realize the benefits of digital solutions with minimal risk and maximum reward.
Page 14

Case study:
Digital Transformation of
Scottish Infrastructure
Scottish Water provides water and wastewater services throughout the whole of Scotland. Every day they deliver 1.52 billion litres of drinking water and treat
1.10 billion litres of wastewater. Over 2.6 million Scottish households rely on their services. Returning wastewater to the environment is a complicated process
that protects the natural environment and controls the potential spread of water-borne diseases. The final stage of the wastewater treatment process is highly
energy intensive, making up 53% of total energy consumed by Scottish Water and accounting for 71% of their carbon footprint. Wastewater treatment is a key
focus of Scottish Water’s efforts to deliver cost and efficiency savings through an ambitious transformation program, with the aim of achieving net- zero carbon
emissions by 2040. Digital transformation is essential to achieving this goal, which is to capture new and existing operational data from across the infrastructure
using sensors, and to send this data to the cloud. This allows a shift to be made from scheduled maintenance to preventive maintenance.
Reducing OPEX and risk with condition monitoring
Scottish Water had a clear idea of what they were looking for in a condition monitoring solution for the transformation of their wastewater treatment plants:
• Reduce operational expenditure by decreasing the need for maintenace personnel to make on-site visits
• Reduce risk of downtime as failure of critical assets can have a direct impact on people and the environment
• Monitor energy usage of asses to reduce energy consumption and help achieve their net zero emissions objective
However, Scottish Water hand some challenges in meeting their goals including:
• Integration with existing solutions - To minimize costs associated with new sensors, wherever possible, the condition monitoring solution
needed to leverage existing data sources in existing systems. Being open to OT standards and cloud connectivity was therefore crucial for
the success of the digital transformation.
• Engaging users to drive change - In a survey conducted by Scottish Water, only a small percentage of employees were enthusiastic about
the digital transformation efforts. An easy- to-use solution was needed to maximize impact and ensure high levels of adoption among
operational staff.
• Maximizing investment impact - Not all assets are equal when it comes to risk and costs. In order for the business case to be successful,
the solution needed to be strategically focused on areas where it could generate the most substantial impact.
• Scalable solution for a diverse infrastructure - Scottish Water has wastewater treatment plants all over Scotland, some serving large cities
and others small towns. A template needed to be developed that Scottish Water could scale across their infrastructure without requiring
external support.
The starting point for the process was recognizing that industry best practice aligned with the process described in ISO 17359:2011. Working in partnership with
Capgemini and local integrator Processplus, the collaboration delivered an integrated end- to-end-solution. After reviewing the existing assets within the plant,
it was clear that only 5- 10% of the assets were highly critical to the operation of the wastewater treatment plant. The remaining equipment had a low to
medium level of criticality, either due to redundant systems or minimal impact on operations in the event of a failure. Two examples that illustrate how the
design of the monitoring approach varies according to criticality are aerators (medium criticality) and screw pumps (high criticality).
Managing process risk at minimal cost - The aerator increases dissolved oxygen levels in the tanks where bacteria break down the wastewater sludge. Aeration
is energy intensive and an important factor when defining plant capacity. However, with multiple aerators at every plant, they are not critical to the operation
of the plant, so a cost- effective condition monitoring solution such as SIMOTICS CONNECT 400 in combination with the respective cloud application SIDRIVE IQ
Fleet was the perfect choice. A more comprehensive solution would have increased the cost but with limited value-added.
Avoiding costly unplanned downtime - Additional condition data was required for the screw pumps, which are used to dewater sludge. Failure of one of
the screw pumps would result in long downtime, high maintenance and replacement costs and could also lead to plant flooding. This meant that a high-end
condition monitoring solution was needed to monitor the mechanical condition of the application itself in addition to the SIMOTICS CONNECT 400 used for
the pump motor. SIPLUS CMS1200 in combination with the Insights Hub Edge Analytics app proved to be the ideal choice for this application. With the high-
resolution raw data provided by the sensor, failures of the screw pumps can be detected weeks and months in advance, enabling predictive maintenance and
therefore reducing costs and the risk of downtime.
Securely combining OT with IT in the Industrial Cloud - Scottish Water needed to utilize data sources that already existed in installed systems whenever possible
to reduce the cost of new equipment. The out-of-box connectivity solution that was provided makes this possible. All data from remote assets and systems can
be captured and uploaded to the cloud to provide the basis for further analysis. Cybersecurity is the key prerequisite for Scottish Water to safeguard critical
assets, protect sensitive information and assure business continuity. Certified to ISO 27001, Siemens provides a holistic cybersecurity approach for Scottish
Water and enables them to comply with national laws and regulations.
Monitoring low-to-medium critical assets with a cost-effective plug-and-play solution
To monitor the aerator, SIMOTICS CONNECT 400 was used as a sensor module mounted on the aerator’s motor. The data captured by the sensor is then
transferred to SIDRIVE IQ Fleet, a cloud application dedicated to monitoring low- voltage motors and the loads they are driving. The commissioning phase
was incredibly straightforward. SIMOTICS CONNECT 400 is a non-proprietary solution and can be used with Siemens and third-party motors. It makes no
difference whether the motor is operated directly online (DOL), with a motor starter or with a frequency converter (VSD). Once the SIMOTICS CONNECT 400
sensor modules had been mounted on the aerator motors while they were still operational – a quick and straightforward process – the modules were ready
for commissioning.
Page 16

Using the intuitive SIDRIVE IQ Config mobile application, the project team was able to
commission SIMOTICS CONNECT 400 in just a few minutes. With the sensor module
connected to the Internet via a network comprising a wireless access point and an LTE/
Wi-Fi router, data could be transferred from the plant to the Internet.
SIDRIVE IQ Fleet, the cloud-based application that collects and combines the data from
the sensor modules, provides powerful analytics and a transparent dashboard and
operates in the background 24/7 anywhere in the world. When an anomaly is detected,
automatic notifications are sent to the operator, so that actions can be taken to avoid
unplanned aerator downtime. The app is constantly being updated and new features are
added so that Scottish Water can obtain a betterinsight into the condition of the aerators.
The sensor module measures the magnetic field, temperature and vibration data of the
aerators. From these three measurements, additional values can be calculated with
high accuracy based on a digital twin of the motor, which was created using data on
the motor rating plate. Increased vibration velocity (v-RMS) could indicate a mechanical
fault, such as misalignment or unbalance.
Increased motor torque or energy consumption indicates a higher load and thus possibly
a blockage in the aerator. As laid down in ISO 17359:2011, these monitoring points
correspond to the identified failure modes for an aerator. The embedded AI-based analytical capabilities of SIDRIVE IQ Fleet calculate the health status of several
KPIs, including bearing condition, unbalance and misalignment. A traffic light in the application indicates the condition of the motor, which is calculated in the
background after a short calibration time by automatically detecting the operating point and analyzing frequency spectra. With this feature, the most common
causes of motor and aerator failures can be detected in a way that is easy to understand and with a high degree of reliability and dependability.
Energy savings versus reduced asset life
The aerators at Scottish Water’s Laighpark site use a variable frequency drive (VFD) to adjust the speed of the motors. With energy reduction being a key
element of their digital transformation strategy, Scottish Water continuously operated the aerators below their rated speed of about 1500 rpm to reduce energy
consumption. However, this strategy had its downside. SIDRIVE IQ Fleet data showed that reducing energy consumption by lowering the motor speed increased
vibration levels, as the aerators were operated closer to or at their resonant frequency.
In addition to using the AI-based condition monitoring, which provides off-the- shelf anomaly detection and automated, operating point-specific threshold
settings, global warning levels for vibration levels have been set according to what is outlined in ISO 108163, which provides guidelines as to where the threshold
levels for vibration velocity should be set. For the aerators, the warning threshold was set at 4.5 mm/s and the alarm threshold at 7.1 mm/s. When the aerator
was operating at its design speed of 1500 rpm, vibration levels were well below these recommended limits. However, as the speed was reduced, the vibration
levels consistently exceeded the alarm threshold, with vibration levels increasing to more than five times the normal levels; as a consequence, the aerator was
being slowly but continuously damaged.
System overview of the condition monitoring of an aerator used at a wastewater
treatment plant of Scottish Water.
SIDRIVE IQ Fleet detected a system resonance with high vibration levels when the aerators were running at reduced speeds; thus leading to a reduced service life.
Until Scottish Water has a better understanding of the optimum operating point (tradeoff between energy consumption versus service life/risk of downtime), the aerators are being
operated at 1500 rpm to minimize the risk of outages.
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While Scottish Water had continually calculated the return on investment of using VFDs for their aerators, only taking into account the hardware and installation
costs associated with implementing a VFD, they had overlooked the impact of a VFD on the expected service life of the aerator. The data provided by SIMOTICS
CONNECT 400 and SIDRIVE IQ Fleet made this trade-off clear to the team at Scottish Water, clearly showing the correlation between reduced motor speed and
reduced service life of an aerator. To take this key insight into consideration, the motor speed has been adjusted to increase the service life.
Condition Monitoring of highly critical assets using process, electrical and physical data
The availability and operational readiness of screw pumps
in a wastewater treatment plant have the highest priority,
as failure or incorrect operation could lead to structural
damage or even localized plant flooding. The SIPLUS
CMS1200 condition monitoring system was implemented
as preventive measure. SIMOTICS CONNECT 400 provides
a high level of transparency about the status of a motor.
But for a highly critical screw pump, additional insight
into the mechanical condition of the application was
needed. By analyzing data from sensors installed on
the gearbox and the screw, along with the existing data
sources captured from VFDs and PLCs, the required level
of transparency can be achieved. With this innovative
solution, both motor anomalies and problems with the
screw can be identified before they impact operation of
the wastewater treatment plant.
The SIPLUS CMS1200 for the screw pump comprises
a SIMATIC S71200 PLC and the SM 1281 condition
monitoring module. This module offers a variety of
analytical methods that are directly implemented in the unit, such as frequency-selective analysis or parameter-based analysis based on high quality raw
data with a scanning frequency of up to 46 kHz. Cloud connectivity was required for Scottish Water, which was implemented using an SM 1281 connected to
a MindConnect Nano via OPC UA. This ensures that the screw pumps can be quickly, easily and securely linked to the Industrial Cloud to implement the IoT
connectivity required. To connect the Mind-Connect Nano to the Internet, an LTE Wi-Fi router was used in addition to the wireless access point that was needed
for the wireless connection of the SIMOTICS CONNECT 400.
The sensors of the CMS module were mounted on the gearbox and the screw. Different faults can be detected depending on how sensors are placed. These
include faults associated with unbalance, alignment, bearing, mounting, frequency and resonance. The frequency-selective analysis embedded in the system,
is complemented by a fast Fourier transformation (FFT) analysis of the vibration data, allowing the type of damage and root cause to be identified weeks or
even months before the problem impacts actual operation. For example, a problem involving the motor-gearbox alignment will manifest itself as an increased
frequency, which is twice the normal rotational frequency. Once this issue has been identified, the alignment can be corrected, preventing an unplanned
downtime of the screw pump.
The vibration data from CMS1200 is first pre-processed on the MindConnect Nano operational at the wastewater treatment plant. Edge Analytics is used to
collect and pre-process data from the sensors attached to the SM 1281. The FFT calculation is performed as part of the application, and only the results are
sent to the Industrial Cloud. The FFT is visualized for operators within SiteView, where they can obtain detailed information about their assets in the event of
an alarm. This strategy takes into consideration the time and spectrum domains providing an even higher level of transparency regarding how equipment could
possibly degrade over time.
SiteView, a cloud application built on the Mendix low-code platform, combines data from multiple sources to create a single dashboard. The application was
developed in close collaboration with Scottish Water’s maintenance staff to ensure ease of use and ultimately high adoption and usage. It not only displays data
from the SC400 and CMS1200, but also from third party equipment such as soft starters, variable speed drives and PLCs. In the event of an anomaly involving
any of the assets, a notification is displayed to tell the operator how to respond. At any time, an operator can click on a sensor to go to the respective cloud
application running in the background for a more detailed view of the asset.
Blueprint to scale the solution
By taking a modular approach to monitor equipment in a wastewater treatment plant, a highly scalable, secure and interoperable solution that can interface
with existing systems has been created that can benefit the global water and wastewater industry. Using the modular approach with SIMOTICS CONNECT 400 for
assets with low to medium criticality and SIPLUS CMS1200 for highly critical assets, Scottish Water has been able to realize their goals for the digital transformation
of their wastewater treatment plants, directly impacting thousands of Scottish lives and the environment. Siemens has also provided the Scottish Water team
with blueprints giving them the opportunity to scale the solution to the other 1800 sites distributed all across Scotland. The blueprints for each application type
not only include the information on how the hardware is connected and which software should be used, but also provide clear recommendations for actions on
how to respond to problems detected on site and the criticality of the various faults.
Previously, Scottish Water collected 600 samples a day from its 1800 wastewater treatment plants. By connecting equipment to the Industrial Cloud, they were
able to reduce their reliance on site visits, resulting in significant cost savings. By monitoring vibration and temperature levels, Scottish Water’s maintenance
teams can pro-actively intervene when signals lie outside normal operating levels, reducing the cost of responsive asset failures by 10% while extending asset
life by 5 to 15%. Using the insights obtained through the condition monitoring equipment, Scottish Water is able to reduce energy consumption by setting the
equipment to run at optimum operating levels. This not only results in lower power costs but also reduces carbon emissions. In doing so, they have taken a major
step towards their goal of achieving net zero emissions.
System overview of the condition monitoring of a screw pump used at a wastewater treatment plant of Scottish
Water.
Page 18

Article:
The rise of sewer network monitoring
Before 2015, the wastewater collection network, was typically very poorly monitored. Apart from monitors to control wastewater pumping stations and floats
on emergency overflows there was a scant amount of monitoring. There were of course exceptions but this was generally the rule. However, there were already
plans in place to change this and the Event Duration Monitoring programme as raised by a ministerial direction saw the vast majority of combined storm overflows
monitored over the next seven years. The monitoring of these overflows has led to public outcry as evidence was openly shared with the public how many times
overflows were “storming” to the river environment.
Figure 1 shows the number of monitors installed (in blue) versus the number of spills reported.
Figure 1 Number of Storm Overflows Monitored versus the number of spills reported (from data reported to the EA)
This was the first time that the industry had seen actual data of the number of overflows to the environment although there is no quality control of the data
as the monitoring was not put under the Environment Agency quality control scheme or MCERTS (Monitoring Certification Scheme) and in real terms, as the
installations were rushed the quality of the data and thus the number of overflows are likely to be being over-estimated at the current time. Time will tell on
this as the Monitoring Certification scheme is retrospectively being applied to all network event duration monitors. This network monitoring is currently being
expanded to overflows as wastewater treatment works and in the next investment period to all emergency overflows on pumping stations within the pumped
wastewater collection network.
This is only part of the story though as the water companies themselves are also installing level monitoring (the same technology with a different purpose) in
wastewater collection networks and this is all a part of the medium-term strategy to limit overflows to the environment. Members of the public will be well aware
of the menace of wet -wipes and fatbergs in sewers and how they cause blockages. The last published cost for sewer blockages was £100 million released by Water
UK in 2017 what is not included in this figure is the environmental cost of sewer blockages and how this impacts on the environment.
To combat this water companies have been installing sewer monitors within the wastewater network to inform machine learning systems developed by technology
companies to help identify where sewer blockages are. This is needed as there is approximately 220,000 miles of sewers in the UK and to understand where
sewage blockages are at any one time is a momentous task.
The rise of tools to help water companies identify where blockages are developing help them to identify exactly where to target the resources to reduce the risk
of sewage either backing up into people’s homes or into the environment. There are approximately 90,000 monitors already installed across the UK monitoring
sewer level and some of the best machine learning systems are showing a 92% accuracy in identifying early forming blockages allowing the water companies to
take a pro-active approach to limit the risk of storm overflows happening due to sewer blockages.
This is a great example of water companies using technology to limit the environmental risk.
Of course, the monitoring of the wastewater network and the receiving rivers is only set to increase. The Environment Act 2021 saw water quality monitoring of
rivers become enshrined in law. Section 82 of the Act stated:
A sewerage undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in England must continuously monitor the quality of water upstream and downstream of an asset within
subsection (2) for the purpose of obtaining the information referred to in subsection
This will see monitoring installed across storm overflows and sewage discharge points across England & Wales over the next ten years. The challenge that the
water industry faces to do this cannot be understated and it is a monumental task to achieve. The question is though what will be done with the data and how
can this be used to help the water environment. The investment that is necessary has been estimated in the billions of pounds just for the initial installation let
alone the ongoing cost of maintaining the monitoring points. However, to get the true value of the data there must be a wider idea by both the government, the
regulators and the water companies of what is going to be achieved by undertaking the monitoring.
In real terms the monitoring under Section 82 is short-sited and really needs to be monitoring the full river environment which can in turn be used, as part of the
National Digital Twin strategy, to complete a digital twin of river basins and their environmental quality. This would give a much more powerful outcome to inform
Page 19

Article:
Data centers 'straining water
resources' as AI swells
For the past 19 years, Felix Adebayo has called Balarabe Musa Crescent in Victoria Island, an affluent area within Nigeria's bustling Lagos city, his home. When
he secured a gatekeeper position at a company in the neighbourhood in 2004, it came with the added bonus of free accommodation. However, with this move
came an unexpected challenge—access to clean drinking water.
Victoria Island, a high-end district and major business hub in Lagos, is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and the Lagos Lagoon to the north. Yet,
despite its affluent status, the area suffers from a severe shortage of clean water. Speaking to SciDev.Net outside his apartment, 52-year-old Adebayo shared
how this had affected his family's daily life.
"We buy water to drink. We buy water to cook," said Adebayo.
The shortage, experts say, is due to the shallow water table and intrusion of saltwater into its groundwater.
So, even though some residents resort to boreholes, the water is unsuitable for even basic needs like bathing, let alone drinking.
Adebayo explained, "You can't dig a borehole and get clean water from it because the water you will get underground is the same."
Located around 300 meters from Adebayo's residence is the data center of IpNx, a telecommunications company focused on providing last-mile connectivity
services. Another center, MDXI, claims to operate the largest carrier-neutral data centers (not tied to any one service provider) in West Africa. It has its head office
within FF Millennium towers in Ligali Ayorinde street, less than 2km from Adebayo's street. According to Data Centers Map, an open resource for researching
data centers, no fewer than ten data centers are headquartered in Lagos, where water resources are stretched.
Data centers like these often use large amounts of water for electricity generation and for cooling. And with the surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI), which relies
on access to vast amounts of data, demand for data center services is rising. However, while the carbon footprint of such centers might be made public, little
information is publicly available about their water usage. In Lagos, the city's water shortage pre-dates the data centers and is largely linked to rapid population
growth, inadequate infrastructure, and pollution, among other things, says Saudat Ajijola, senior lecturer in the Department of Architecture at Nigeria's Lead
City University.
However, "pressure on existing limited water resources [from data centers] may have significantly strained the provision of adequate clean water," she added.
"The establishment of AI and data centers in Nigeria can facilitate technological development, foster collaboration with global tech companies, and generally
improve economic growth," said Ajijola.
"However, it can exacerbate the strain on the already limited water supplies and potentially impact the people's access to water."
AI's 'water footprint'
Conventional data centers already use large amounts of water for their cooling processes. But these may need to increase their cooling capacity to support the
vast computing resources and storage requirements needed to support new AI applications.
Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and ex-vice-president of the UN Environment Assembly Bureau,
explained: "AI requires high-performance processes and that results in more electricity and water use in the case of AI data centers when compared with
conventional data centers."
Dedicated AI data centers are springing up, mostly in the US, but increasingly also in the global South, where water resources are stretched.
Stanford University's AI Index Report 2023 revealed that the environmental impact of training AI models is unprecedented as the adoption of AI skyrockets.
The proportion of companies using AI more than doubled between 2017 and 2022, according to the report. Madani said AI experts were becoming increasingly
aware of AI's environmental footprint.
"The public and the decision-makers must know about such footprints to pro-actively develop […] footprint-reduction measures," he told SciDev.Net.
AI systems require a lot of data to train and operate. This data is stored in data centers, which are large facilities that house computer systems and other
equipment.
The data centers are the backbone of the digital world, providing the computing power and storage space that AI systems need to function. They power our
Page 20

online activities, such as social media, online shopping, streaming services, online gaming and video conferencing. Even after adopting best practices, machine
learning takes up around 10 to 15% of the total data center energy at Google, according to a paper by computer scientists at the US tech company. Water
consumption at the firm's data centers increased more than 60% in the last four years, from 3,412 million gallons in 2019 to 5,565 million gallons in 2022.
Shaolei Ren, associate professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Riverside, says the carbon footprint of
AI models is usually documented, but "the water footprint is missing".
"Once we have the visibility of AI's water footprint, we can leverage the scheduling flexibility of AI to reduce it," he told SciDev.Net.
Why so thirsty?
Data centers use water in two ways: direct and indirect. Data centers require vast amounts of electricity for their operations and electricity generation requires
significant amounts of water. In addition to this indirect impact via electricity use, data centers require considerable amounts of water for cooling. Power plants
use water to generate electricity by heating water to create steam, which then turns a turbine to generate electricity. The water used in this process is first
treated to remove any contaminants that could damage the equipment.
After the water is used to create steam, it may be evaporated, discharged as effluent, or recirculated. Data centers also use water to cool the equipment by
circulating water through it, which absorbs heat. The water is then cooled and recirculated. The amount of water used varies depending on the type of power
plant and from region to region, as the water consumption depends on the weather conditions and cooling technology used. Computer scientists interviewed
by SciDev.Net say these local conditions are often not factored into decisions on where to locate data centers or what cooling systems to use.
"We need to consider the local constraints and priorities before deciding the most suitable cooling method," Ren added. "We need to consider not only the
direct water consumption but also the indirect water consumption for electricity generation to holistically reduce the total water footprint."
According to a recent preprint (a draft research paper that has not been peer reviewed) published by Ren and his colleagues, training GPT-3 in Microsoft's state-
of-the-art US data centers can directly consume a total of 700,000 litres of clean freshwater. They say the language prediction model needs to "drink" a 500ml
bottle of water to have a simple conversation of about 20- to 50 questions and answers per user. If this training was done in Microsoft's Asian data centers, it
would consume three times as much, according to the paper. This is because the climate in Asia is warmer and drier, which means that more water is needed
to cool the data centers.
"This is extremely concerning, as freshwater scarcity has become one of the most pressing challenges shared by all of us in the wake of the rapidly growing
population, depleting water resources, and aging water infrastructure," the paper says.
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of several regions facing a water crisis, with water demand expected to almost quadruple by 2030. Yet it is becoming a hub for data
center investments. The demand for data centers on the continent has doubled since 2016, according to the International Telecommunications Union, and it is
expected to attract US$5 billion of investment by 2026, potentially putting further strain on water resources.
Lack of regulation
"This sector is not properly regulated in both the global North and global South," said Madani from UN University Institute for Water, adding that stronger
regulations, monitoring and reporting are "essential".
"In addition, service users must become aware of the impacts of their 'AI consumption' on water resources," he said.
According to the World Bank, water-related disasters account for 70% of all deaths related to natural disasters. About 2 billion people worldwide don't have
access to safe drinking water and roughly half of the world's population is experiencing severe water scarcity for at least part of the year. These numbers are
expected to increase, exacerbated by climate change and population growth.
In developing countries, the water footprint of AI data centers is more concerning. These countries often have limited water resources and are already struggling
to meet the needs of their growing populations. The addition of a growing number of data centers to the mix could put a strain on water resources and lead to
water shortages.
Mohammad Atiqul Islam, assistant professor in computer science and engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington, and one of the published preprint
team, said water was rarely considered when locating data centers. "Typically, companies care more about performance and cost; they do not take water
intensity into account," he told SciDev.Net.
"We need to ensure that the environmental costs are fairly distributed across different regions for environmentally equitable AI, which is a crucial consideration
for responsible AI."
Lagos water shortage
In Lagos, the state water corporation supplies some households with water, but residents say it's often not clean and the intervention is insufficient. Adebayo
says he ends up spending up to 8,000 naira (about U$9) a week on water.
"They used to bring water from Ikoyi," said Sodiq Omotayo, Adebayo's friend.
"There is a water corporation at Ikoyi. Those tankers are used to bring water and supply the area. But it is not drinkable and regular. Many don't cook with it."
In 2021, the Lagos State government admitted that less than 40% of the state's residents have access to potable water. The deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat,
while delivering the Governor's speech at an event, alluded to the fact that the production by the water corporation is not enough to meet the needs of
Lagosians.
"The Lagos State Water Supply Master Plan estimates daily water demand in the city at 540 million gallons per day (MGD) but production by the Lagos State
Page 21

WIPAC Monthly - November & December 2023

WIPAC Monthly - November & December 2023

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