WIPAC Monthly - April 2023.pdf

WIPAC MONTHLY
The Monthly Update from Water Industry Process Automation & Control
www.wipac.org.uk Issue 4/2023- April 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
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 - 13
Instrumentation governance & environmental performance.........................................
With the release this month of the consultation document on Section 82 of the Environment Act which will see water quality
monitoring installed across England's rivers there was one notable thing missing....governance. In this opinion piece we look at what
governance should be put into place and why it is so important.
14 - 15
Instrumentation & Digital Transformation....................................................................
In this repeat of the summary article of the IWA Digital Water programme white paper on the Instrumentation Life-cycle we look
again at the process that the industry needs to go through when installing measurement systems taking an end to end approach
assuring that what is installed is actually reading correctly.
16 - 18
Artificial intelligence in water cycle management........................................................
In a diversion from this months topic we look at a blog from Idrica and how we can apply artificial intelligence in water cycle
management and how it can be used to increase efficiency across the potable water treatment systems
19-20
The cost of monitoring our rivers...................................................................................
In our final article concentrating on the subject of monitoring our rivers we look at what it is likely to cost and how much will be
wasted if we don't get it right first time. This is a repeat of the article that was put together about 18 months ago and before the
consultation but it highlights the risks that the water industry holds in delivering the water quality monitoring programme.
21-23
Workshops, conferences & seminars............................................................................
The highlights of the conferences and workshops in the coming months.
24 - 25

From the Editor

With the release of the consultation on water quality this month there has been a flurry of activity from the water
industry . It was something that was expected but there is a realisation that the water quality monitoring of overflows
to the river environment is actually going to have to be delivered. The amount that is going to have to be installed is eye-
wateringly uncomfortable and this just includes the amount of money to install it let alone to maintain it. When I was in
a water company there was also the avoidance of setting up a "cottage industry," to paraphrase a comment I was given
recently this is going to be like a "cottage industry on steroids," or a "cottage industrial revolution" if that is a phrase that
people prefer.
Havingbeeninthewaterindustryforover25yearswiththelasthalfofitdealingwithregulatorywastewaterinstrumentation
and data management the things that keep me up at night is how we are going to ensure the data quality. I have been
banging that drum for years now along with the old "Garbage In Garbage Out" phrase that is more relevant than ever
especially considering the fact that we are entering an era of open data and everyone wanting to know what is going on at
anyone time or at least have the data available to them whether they choose to use it or not. It is why I have resurrected
a couple of articles that I have written in the past few years on the whole subject of instrumentation and its life-cycle, the
cost of installing water quality monitoring and the governance that needs to be put into place to ensure that the data is quality is right. It is something that I
seem to be getting drawn into more and more nowadays.
The importance of all of this is that big decisions are made from the smallest bit of data. I've seen plans during my career built up on the back of the data from
a simple flow meter. Those plans have hit the dustbin when I've got a ruler out of the back of my car, pushed a few buttons and corrected a wrong setting. The
correct data is a wonderful thing and can tell you all sorts, a trained eye can spot mistakes and where errors have crept in due to one reason or another. Debris
floating down a sewer and getting trapped in the flow measurement device was one that I remembered from years ago - difficult to spot when its a piece of
plyboard that has perfectly shaped itself to a flume (true story) and caused the flow to apparently increase by 20%. If something so simple can happen with
a relatively simple flow measurement what can happen to complex measurements of water quality especially when its being reported to the public in "real
time."
This highlights the dangers that the industry face over the next ten years or so. It is going to need more people with a real technical expertise and processes in
place to have that knowledge in the water industry moving forward. The effort that it is going to take cannot be under-estimated. People will say that artificial
intelligence and machine learning can take over these sort of duties but remember and remember it will those sort of technologies are particularly susceptible
to being misled by putting garbage in and of course then misleading everyone by getting garbage out.
Have a good month,
Oliver

Water monitors could forecast safe swim times
Yorkshire Water is installing 21 water quality monitors along stretches of the River Wharfe in a trial to better understand impacts on the river and ultimately to
help improve bathing water quality in the picturesque town of Ilkley, UK.
Monitors from six different suppliers are being tested at sites along the river for 12 months. The trial will ensure the water quality monitors can deliver accurate
results in a challenging outdoor environment.
The monitors have been installed in line with draft requirements in the Government's Environment Act and will measure levels of dissolved oxygen - the amount
of oxygen available to living aquatic organisms - along with temperature, pH values, turbidity and levels of ammonia. The requirements of the Environment Act
are yet to be finalised and will not come into force until 2025, but Yorkshire Water says it is hoping to demonstrate how the legislation could work.
An additional 120 sewer level and flow monitors will be installed in the town as part of Yorkshire Water’s smart network project. Monitoring equipment will
provide further understanding of real-time performance of the sewer network.
A key part of the project will be to link the data collected by the 21 water quality monitors to data from the sewer network. This will be analysed by software
from technology company StormHarvester, which will look at water quality and any impact coming from discharges related to combined sewage and stormwater
overflows, known as CSOs.
If the trial is successful, it is hoped the data will be used to provide near real-time water quality insights to the public so they can make informed decisions on
entering the bathing water.
Thomas Ogden, waste networks innovation specialist at Yorkshire Water, said “Our smart networks project will further our understanding of the sewer network
from toilets to treatment works, with the ultimate aim of reducing discharges into rivers.
“The existing smart network project, combined with the 21 water quality monitors we are trialling will allow us to link the data, analyse it quickly and enable us to
provide real-time information to people looking to enjoy the bathing water in Ilkley. Longer term, we hope to be able to forecast what we expect the river water
quality to be many hours ahead of expected bad weather, to help inform people if it is a suitable time to swim or not.”
The 21 river water quality monitors and 120 sewer level and flow monitors are currently being installed in Ilkley and along the Wharfe.
Page 4
Industry News

DEFRA launches consultation on Section 82 of the Environment Act
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have launched their long-awaited
consultation on Section 82 of the Environment Act this month. Section 82 is the part of the
Environment Act 2021 which requires the water companies to monitor upstream and downstream
of overflows from the wastewater system to the environment for a range of water quality
parameters. These include
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Temperature
• pH
• Turbidity
• Levels of ammonia
• anything else specified in regulations made by the secretary of state
This will see the water industry install tens of thousands of water quality monitoring stations across
England over the next ten years with the express purpose of measuring the impact of wastewater
discharges from storm overflows and wastewater treatment works discharging to watercourses.
This would see an approximate maximum of 19,000 locations installed with both upstream and
downstream monitoring stations (making around 38,000 locations). This is likely to be alot less in
number due to the clustering rules that are in the consultation that will see locations that are close
to each other grouped up to a maximum of ten locations forming a single group.
The consultation is only open to a select group of invited stakeholders due to its technical nature.
To read more on this important consultation for monitoring within the water industry click here to
be taken to the consultation page
Environment Agency release the wastewater treatment works
installation regulations for Event Duration Monitors
Also this month the Environment Agency in England & Wales have released the guidelines for Event Duration Monitors at wastewater treatment works which
monitor to the storm management system (nominally storm tanks but this could incorporate a range of storm management techniques). The guidance is for the
installation of these monitors in line with the U_MON3 programme that is being installed by the Water & Sewerage Companies in England & Wales. However
technology that has been installed currently will not be subject to the product standards until 2025 and there is a requirement for all of these monitors to be
inspected in line with the Environment Agency Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCERTS) by 2026.
The standard requires monitoring devices to monitor with an accuracy of 5mm which is challenging for a number of current monitoring techniques that are
currently installed. This will see problems within the wastewater industry as the standard gets adopted into network event duration monitors, pumping stations
and emergency overflows with all of these devices set to fall under the MCERTS programme and require an inspection by a date yet to be confirmed but is
thought to be 2030.
Under the installation standards there is a requirement for a certified device to be used with all devices that currently hold a Class 1 accuracy for flow monitoring
set to be co-opted into the event duration monitoring standard.
This will eventually see up to 30,000 devices monitoring the English & Welsh wastewater network and treatment works fall under the MCERTS programme up
from the current 3,500 monitors that fall under the scheme
Page 5

Cardiff Council addresses flood risk using Bluesky National Tree Map
Cardiff Council is using an aerial map of trees to help it prioritise essential works in order to reduce the risk of surface water flooding.
Created by Bluesky International, the National Tree Map provides accurate height, location and canopy coverage data for more than 400 million trees across
the UK. When combined with data detailing the location of highways drainage gullies, this intelligence is helping Cardiff Council prioritise cleansing and street
sweeping programmes to reduce the risk of fallen leaves blocking drains. The Bluesky National Tree Map data is also helping the Council engage with local
residents to minimise blockages in streets with the highest risk.
“This is a simple but highly effective way of using location-based intelligence to achieve operational benefits,” commented Councillor Caro Wild, Cabinet
Member for Climate Change at Cardiff Council. “A desktop study, which combined the Bluesky National Tree Map data with internal map layers, including gulley
locations and street gazetteers, allowed us to identify gullies with the closest proximity to trees. This has allowed us to prioritise maintenance and cleansing
programmes and engage with residents and other stakeholders.”
The Council currently has responsibility for around 100,000 highway gullies, or drains (pits covered by an open metal grating typically located at the edge of the
highway), which are designed to drain rainwater, and other surface run off, into a drainage system where it can be conveyed to an appropriate discharge point.
As part of the national dataset, the Bluesky National Tree Map has captured data of trees 3 metres and taller in the Cardiff area and has been continuously used
by various departments within the Council since 2020. Using the open-source Geographical Information System QGIS, to compare the proximity of trees and
gullies, close to 5,000 or five percent of gullies were deemed to be at risk of leaf fall. This intelligence allowed the Council to identify streets with the largest
number of at-risk gullies and prioritise these for its autumn gulley cleansing and street sweeping programmes.
Other applications of the Bluesky data used by teams at Cardiff Council include planning, drainage and arboriculture. For example, the data will help officers
with approval of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), mandatory in Wales for developments of 100 metres square or more and will allow assessment of the
impact of trees on other types of watercourses to help prevent flooding. The National Tree Map data will also help arboriculturists plan maintenance work for
protected trees and inform planting strategies for parks and urban forestry.
Ralph Coleman, Sales Director at Bluesky, added: “The feedback we get regularly from users of the National Tree Map is that it enables analytical work to be
carried out on the desktop whereas previously site visits might have been needed, this saves time and valuable resources. The National Tree Map delivers
accurate insights rapidly, shortening lead times for valuable projects that contribute to the safety and security of the public. The data is used by a wide range of
businesses and organisations from local authorities and academia to architects and planners, renewable energy companies and environmental organisations.”
The National Tree Map, which is unique to Bluesky, was launched over 11 years ago, initially to address the risk of building subsidence for the insurance sector.
It is created using innovative algorithms and image processing techniques, using the most up-to-date aerial photography and terrain data for the whole of Great
Britain and Ireland. It provides a detailed reference as to the location, canopy cover and height of trees 3m and taller which can be applied alongside other data
to establish ownership, proximity to other features or assets, and relationships between demographic, economic or social data.
Page 6

Smart data management enables the University of Freiburg to make
important hydrological discoveries
The University of Freiburg is one of the top universities in Germany and has been recognized for excellence in research and education for the last 565 years.
In fact, 23 Nobel Prize laureates have researched, taught, and or studied at the university. Markus Weiler is a Professor of Hydrology & Chair of Hydrology in the
Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources and explains why the faculty has such a good reputation when it comes to research.
“We are somewhat unique in that we typically have one professor that oversees a small department with 5 to 20 Ph.D. students and other scientists, so we have
the capacity to run many different research projects. Germany also has very good external funding available for university research. The hydrology department
currently has five different experimental catchments, one in the Black Forest, another in a rural setting, also an urban setting, and two in agricultural watersheds.
At any given time, we have 10-15 different projects underway.” said Weiler.
These research projects amount to large volumes of data that need to be stored and managed by multiple people for long periods of time. Having this data
accessible in one central place is important so that researchers can organize and analyze the data. In 2003, Weiler was working at the University of British Columbia
on the West Coast of Canada, where he first became familiar with Aquarius, a data management software tool, developed by Aquatic Informatics.
“I can appreciate the thought that went into structuring the data in Aquarius. Instead of focussing on the sensor, Aquarius starts with the location, because you
need much more than a measurement, coordinates and a time stamp, to know the quality of the data. You also need to include metadata, such as whether the
reading is manual or digital, plus the frequency of measurement. This helps to determine if you have drift or if the sensor is broken. Sensor drift can lead to
inaccurate measurement readings. It can be caused by several factors such as environmental contamination, vibration, or extreme temperature fluctuations. Using
software like Aquarius gives us quality assured data, which sets the baseline for good analysis,” said Weiler.
In 2012 the Chair of Hydrology got a large grant from the German research foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) to install 10,000 individual
sensors in different watersheds in Luxembourg to measure discharge, soil moisture, meteorological variables, water quality, groundwater, and isotopes. Aquarius
was used to manage the large amount of data from this continual monitoring and required some custom modifications to manage the large scope of the project.
“At the time Aquarius was designed mostly for water gauging, discharge, and quality data and so we worked with the software developers to add some new
measurement parameters for soil water content, stable isotopes, and meteorological variables. They also worked with us to create new features that allow us to
manage the data in the way we want to apply it. For example, we had multiple stations with clusters of sensors, and we wanted to duplicate the meta information
for all stations rather than set up each station individually. Being able to work with the Aquarius team to make these kinds of enhancements was beneficial to
both of us.”
Another unique aspect of the chair of hydrology is that is part of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, this gives Weiler access to a range of expertise.
Projects include input and use of data from economists, political scientists, engineers, and so on. This interdisciplinary approach allows research projects to
incorporate many different skill sets and perspectives that make the outcomes more meaningful to society.
Today the chair of hydrology is working on a large project linking carbon and water fluxes in forests between trees, soil, and the atmosphere. There are thousands
of measurements being taken within one hectare of different forest stands and Weiler is using Aquarius to manage, qualify and analyze much of this data. This is a
complex project with 4-dimensional measurement, that includes sensor and sample data that is currently collected by students but will soon be robots designed
by the engineering department, as well as drones to measure conditions in the canopy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear magnetic resonance
(NMR) that allows for analysis of water and phloem sap flows throughout the tree system. The continuous NMR is a new methodology that can quantify the
transport of water and carbon (isotopes) in trees and is something Weiler hopes to work with Aquarius developers to incorporate into the software.
By improving the understanding of carbon and water cycles in forests, scientists will be able to better predict the effects of extreme heat, drought, and flooding
that are increasingly endangering many forests around the world. “As forests process much of the planet’s carbon, their survival is our survival, so it’s imperative
that we understand how it functions on different scales so that we can better predict the health of forests in 10, 20, 50 or 100 years plus, as we face the effects
of climate change,” said Weiler. Another research project that requires, processing and storage of continual monitoring is the study of hydrological connectivity
and its controls on hillslope and catchment streamflow generation. The university has 46 sensor cluster sites and over 20 streamflow gauging sites within a nested
catchment arrangement. Measurements include soil moisture and temperature, water level and temperature in ground and surface water, sap flow, rainfall, air
temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and global radiation. These measurements amount to a total of 2,664 times series at five-minute intervals.
There are also 60 time-lapse cameras and sample observations that can be written up in Aquarius notes for individual sites.
Using Aquarius, researchers can arrange and analyze data and find relationships between such things as soil moisture and groundwater level, stream discharge
and isotopes to better understand how much water catchments store, how catchments release water in space and time, and how the hydrological functions of
water collection, storage, and release inter-connect. Prior to using Aquarius, research data would reside in disparate places and over time the data sets would
often lose their value because the information that defined the data or time series would be missing as the person moved on. The university found that years and
years of valuable information was lost when data was stored in various project file formats and in different locations.
“Like most universities, we have a lot of data scientists and of course, they tend to like to build their own systems and think it’s more affordable. But we have seen
over time that to get the most value out of data, takes skilled structuring, and in our case from hydrological experts. Software continues to evolve over time as
do our methodologies, research needs, and project parameters. Designing a new data management system from the ground up to accommodate these changes,
doesn’t make sense. This is why we prefer to use a professional program that is maintained by developers who focus solely on streamlining data management
for better analysis” said Weiler.
Today Aquarius is used by monitoring agencies around the world to acquire, process, model, and publish data, and it continues to expand features and offerings
based on valuable insight and needs from clients like Markus Weiler.By furthering the understanding of connectivity with a catchment, scientists are able to better
predict rainfall-runoff response and how it affects water quality in streams as well as impacts on riparian ecosystems. With extreme rainfall events becoming more
common, this research will help to understand the interaction between surface and groundwater, but also the connectivity of pollutants into the environment.
Page 7

Welsh Water to test efficiency of 424 wastewater pumps at 132
treatment works as part of commitment to net zero
As part of its commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, Dŵr Cymru
Welsh Water is collaborating with Riventa to test the efficiency of 424 wastewater pumps at
132 treatment works. Riventa’s expertise in next-generation pump system optimisation will
support Welsh Water in evaluating asset performance and reducing energy consumption,
resulting in significant savings.
Over the next two years, Riventa will gather accurate and high-quality data to determine
the health and efficiency of all 424 pumps. This data will identify inefficiencies and enable
Welsh Water to address poor assets, driving investment and refurbishments to improve
performance.
Andrew Heygate-Browne, Energy Projects Analyst at Welsh Water, said:
“As one of the largest energy users in Wales, with a gross energy bill of £77 million in 2021/22,
we recognize the need to reduce our energy consumption and play a significant role in Welsh
Government’s decarbonisation targets for Wales. Working with Riventa to ensure our pumps
operate as efficiently as possible is one of several critical steps we’re taking towards Dŵr
Cymru Welsh Water achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.”
Environment Agency launches Rivercraft 2: suite of games to engage
young people on flood risk
The Environment Agency has launched Rivercraft 2, a suite of games aimed at helping to educate children and young people about the risks of flooding –
and inspire young people to careers where people can make a difference. Produced by a partnership of the Environment Agency, Microsoft and developers
BlockBuilders to engage young people on flood risk reduction, climate change and biodiversity, the games provide an innovative geography resource for students
and teachers.
The launch of Rivercraft 2, available on the Minecraft Education Edition, follows the success of the original game, rolled out last April and based on the £54.7
million flood risk management scheme in Preston and South Ribble. The in-game Preston world represented the first use of artificial intelligence to map a region
and convert it into an interactive Minecraft map. Rivercraft 2 is a continuation of this project, now based in generic urban and rural worlds rather than a specific
location, making it applicable to all. The suite comprises the following three games:
Game 1 – Nature-based Solutions, where the player has to use natural methods to reduce flood risk, including by restoring rivers, building
ponds and helping beavers to build their dam;
Game 2 – Farming, Irrigation and Drought, where the player has to find the right balance of water use, leafy crops and cover crops for a
successful harvest and to ensure wildlife survives during a drought;
Game 3 – Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and Water Efficiency in the home, where the player has to construct sustainable urban
drainage features to reduce surface water flooding and complete tasks around a typical home to reduce water use.
Aiming to inspire the scientists and engineers of tomorrow, Rivercraft 2 features real Environment Agency specialists represented in the game as non-playable
characters (NPCs). For example, players could encounter environmental project manager Amelia Russell, who ensures new projects protect species, habitats,
landscapes and heritage, or water resources adviser Mark Harvett, who provides advice on modernisation projects for taking water from groundwater or surface
water stores.
Rivercraft 2 has received industry recognition, having been shortlisted for two awards: for the Excellence in Innovation category as part of the Geography
in Government awards and for the Innovation Excellence category as part of the Flood and Coast Excellence awards 2023. The winner of the former will be
announced at an awards ceremony in London on 15 May, while the winner of the latter will be announced on 7 June at the Flood and Coast conference.
John Curtin, Environment Agency chief executive, said:
“This is an amazing opportunity for young people to learn about flooding, the environment and climate resilience in a really fun and interactive way. We know
that climate anxiety is a real issue for young people, so we hope these games not only help to educate but also inspire, by providing them with the skills and
knowledge to take action and make a difference. We hope these games drive new interest in careers in science, technology, engineering and maths, as well as
introducing the next generation to the brilliant career opportunities we have in the Environment Agency. Their creativity and talent are very much needed in
our race for climate resilience. We can’t wait to see these games land, excite young people and connect them with their environment in new dynamic ways.”
The first three Rivercraft games, which were released in April 2022, have been played by around 27,000 young people and teachers in the UK. Now the Rivercraft
2 games have been released the Agency is aiming to at least double this impact in the UK. The Rivercraft 2 project team consulted the Geographical Association
to ensure the games’ content is closely aligned to the National Geography Curriculum. The games were tested with pupils and teachers in both primary and
secondary schools
Page 8

MOSL - Panel metering strategy urges companies to accelerate
adoption of smart meters in run up to AMP8
MOSL’s Strategic Panel has published its interim metering strategy, urging water companies to accelerate the rollout of smart meters to non-household customers
in the run-up to AMP8. The interim strategy has been issued to water companies as they begin finalising their Water Resource Management Plans and investment
plans for the 2025-30 AMP8 period.
The strategy emphasises the important role the non-household (NHH) market - which uses a third of the country’s water - plays in meeting the growing demand
for water and how the nature of the market makes it ideal for water efficiency measures. According to the Panel, having access to accurate, timely, detailed
consumption data will be critical in meeting the future demand challenges and achieving Defra’s target of reducing overall consumption in the NHH market by
9 per cent by 2038. And that means investing in smart meters.
The Panel also stressed the importance of water companies rolling out smart meters at a similar speed to avoid a data ‘slow lane’ and ‘fast lane’ developing in
which the quality of data and therefore services retailers can offer customers varies significantly from region to region. The strategy recommends companies roll
out smart metering to all NHH customers in AMP8, i.e. that companies with large-scale plans to roll out smart meters to domestic customers should include NHH
customers at the same time. Companies unable to do so should prioritise ensuring all medium (25-50mm) and large (50mm or more) meters are smart in AMP8.
In doing so, targeting just 13 per cent of the meters in the market will mean that nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of water consumption is smart metered.
The strategy also includes links to related research and templates that companies can use to support their WRMP plans and PR24 submissions.
Commenting on the strategy, Panel Chair, Trisha McAuley, said:
“Many companies published their draft WRMPs before Defra confirmed its consumption reduction target.
“As companies revisit their plans, the message from the Strategic Panel is clear: your final plans must include specific plans for smart meters in the NHH market
and those plans need to be ambitious.
“We appreciate that wholesalers have many competing pressures in AMP8, but it is essential for the NHH market that we move as quickly and consistently
towards smart metering as we can.”
The interim strategy will be used as the basis for a detailed strategy, which will be developed over the next 12 months.
Anglian Water tenders £10 million AMP7/8 contract for sewer
network monitoring sensors
Anglian Water has gone out to tender with an AMP7/8 contract for sewer network monitoring sensors worth an estimated £10 million. The water company
is looking to procure sewer monitoring network level sensor remote telemetry units and flow sensor remote telemetry units in order to pro-actively address
blockages and pollution events including the potential for high spilling CSO locations by being paired with a visualisation platform. The contract is being tendered
in two separate Lots:
Lot 1 Flow Sensors - meaning a single device which is installed below ground level and is capable of measuring flow of water, sewage or sludge, with telemetry
capability to remotely transmit flow data.
Lot 2 Level Sensors - meaning a single device which is installed below ground level and is capable of measuring the level of water, sewage or sludge, with
telemetry capability to remotely transmit flow data.
During the 7 year contract period Anglian Water intends to procure a range of equipment and services, including:
• acquisition of ~20,000 sewer network monitoring sensors in the first two years of the agreement
• acquisition of replacement sewer network monitors
• acquisition of replacement batteries
• data and digital / telemetry services
• collection / delivery and disposal
Theprocurementdoesnotcovertheinstallation,maintenanceandreplacementofsensorsoravisualisationplatformwithanalytics.Theinstallation,maintenance
and replacement of sensors will be done by Anglian Water or a third party delivery route, while the visualisation platform will be separately tendered
Page 9

National Cyber Security Centre warns of emerging threat to critical
national infrastructure
The National Cyber Security Centre - which is part of GCHQ - has issued an alert this month to critical national infrastructure (CNI) organisations warning of an
emerging threat from state-aligned groups. The NCSC is warning in the alert that some groups have stated an intent to launch 'destructive and disruptive attacks'
and that CNI organisations should ensure they have taken steps outlined in the NCSC's heightened threat guidance to strengthen their defences.
The threat comes particularly from state-aligned groups sympathetic to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the alert said, and has emerged over the past 18 months.
According to NCSC, these groups are not motivated by financial gain, nor subject to control by the state, and so their actions can be less predictable and their
targeting broader than traditional cyber crime actors.
While in the short term any activity from the groups is likely to take the form of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, website defacements or the spread
of misinformation, some groups have stated a desire to achieve a more destructive impact against western infrastructure, the alert said.
The alert has been issued on the first day of the NCSC’s CYBERUK conference in Belfast, where experts have gathered to consider topics under the theme of
‘securing an open and resilient digital future.’
Dr Marsha Quallo-Wright, NCSC Deputy Director for Critical National Infrastructure, said:
“It has become clear that certain state-aligned groups have the intent to cause damage to CNI organisations, and it is important that the sector is aware of this.
“In the wake of this emerging threat, our message to CNI sectors is to take sensible, proportionate steps now to protect themselves.
“The NCSC has produced advice for organisations on steps to take when the cyber threat is heightened, and I would strongly encourage all CNI organisations to
follow this now.”
The NCSC’s heightened threat guidance was published shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, and organisations are encouraged to continue to
follow it.
Cyber resilience in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will feature in a session on day two of CYBERUK entitled The Three Rs of Cyber Security: Russia,
Ransomware and Resilience.
United Utilities launches largest ever UK trial of smart water butts in
Lancashire
A small village in Lancashire is now part of the UK’s biggest hi-tech drainage community thanks to United Utilities. Around 30 homes and the local primary school
in Forton have received smart water butts and are taking part in a 12 month trial with the aim of reducing flooding in the area and stopping sewers becoming
overloaded during periods of heavy rainfall.
Forton has a historical issue of surface water flooding in the Spring Vale area - a lot of this is caused by ‘urban creep’ with an increase in patios, extensions and
driveways leading to more rainwater run-off. Most of this rainwater enters combined sewers, increasing the number of times the overflow comes into operation
at the local watercourse.
SDS Limited has created the smart water butts and has installed them in the village. They run by solar power and contain AI computers that allow United Utilities
to understand how much rainwater has been collected and then release it back to the sewer network before it is likely to rain. This frees up more room to collect
the amount of rain that’s forecast and prevent any excess from entering the sewage system.
Since being installed, early findings have shown that the smart water butts were up to 75 times as effective as a standard, well installed water butt, and could
save up to 30,000L of water per installation from entering the sewer network during peak demand.
Johnny Phillips, Surface Water Strategy Development Manager for United Utilities, said:
“We’re delighted to be launching this trial in Forton. Having looked at a number of areas, we think the smart water butts will make a real difference in the village
and help to increase capacity in our sewer network and deliver local environmental improvements and the early findings are backing this up.
“The issue of ‘urban creep’ is one that is growing and so innovative approaches like the use of smart water butts will play their part in reducing peak flows into
the sewer network. If the trial is successful then there is the potential to roll this out further to other areas where it would be beneficial in the North West.”
A further 75 smart water butts will also be installed in Wrea Green as part of the scheme.
The company is also looking at other projects to help remove surface water from entering the sewer network in Forton, including removing misconnections and
working with the local authority to better manage land drainage in the area.
Page 10

Royal HaskoningDHV partners with ABB to provide standardized
solution for its Nereda wastewater treatment technology
ABB has been selected by Royal HaskoningDHV as a preferred global automation supplier for its Nereda® Technology, a sustainable and cost-effective wastewater
treatment solution that purifies water using aerobic granular sludge (AGS). The two companies will collaborate on research and development to further optimize
automation solutions for wastewater treatment, a traditionally energy-intensive process that has resulted in the sector consuming up to three percent of the
world’s total energy output and contributing over 1.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The Aquasuite Nereda® controller, a smart software process controller through which plant operators can directly optimize plant performance, will be integrated
into the ABB Ability™ 800xA Distributed Control System (DCS).
ABB’s automation platform will incorporate an electrical control system, a safety system and a collaboration enabler with the capacity to improve engineering
efficiency, operator performance and asset utilization.
João Tiago de Almeida, Business Unit Director Water Technology Products at Royal HaskoningDHV commented:
“Royal HaskoningDHV continues to drive innovation in water treatment and will further extend our leadership in the market through our collaboration with ABB
and the integration of our complementary technologies.”
With the United Nations predicting a 40 percent water deficit by 2040, converting wastewater through treatment for reuse is vital in helping bridge the gap
between growing demand and scarcity of water.
“Optimizing wastewater treatment is key to addressing the challenge of water scarcity”, said Marco Achilea, Water Lead at ABB Energy Industries. “However, the
cost and energy required to do so is often prohibitive, resulting in only approximately 50 percent of wastewater being treated globally.”
ABB’s Energy Transition Equation report found that harnessing digitalization and automation technologies to optimize wastewater treatment sites could reduce
carbon emissions by up to 2,000 tons per annum. With over 50,000 wastewater plants worldwide, there is an opportunity to save 100 million tons of CO2 per
year and reduce water companies’ annual operational costs by up to $1.2 million.
In 2022 ABB delivered its Ability™ Smart Solution for Wastewater, which is designed to optimize operations and reduce energy consumption in the water sector,
delivering energy savings of up to 25 percent during aeration and pumping, as well as a 10 percent reduction in chemical usage. Now, through the collaboration
with Royal HaskoningDHV, ABB can further optimize wastewater treatment for utilities.
As the original AGS technology, Nereda® significantly improves the century-old activated sludge process for treating wastewater.
The granules provide a host for more intense treatment of the wastewater at a much faster pace than conventional activated sludge. This enables the process
to meet strict compliance mandates while consuming up to 50% less electricity, in 75% less footprint than conventional aerobic sludge treatment processes
with little or no chemical addition.
Innovate UK awards lead-sensing technology partnership
‘outstanding’ status
A three-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) for a hand-held device to detect lead in drinking water has been awarded the highest grade possible by
Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency. The partnership, between Manchester Metropolitan University and Aquacheck Engineering, which began in January
2019, has been independently evaluated and achieved an “outstanding” grading by the agency. This corresponds to the team having over-delivered on the
original objectives of the project.
The partners sought to develop an inexpensive rapid-sensing device for evaluating the concentration of lead in drinking water. This has led to an easy-to-use,
robust, hand-held device with a high level of accuracy and exceptional low-level detection limits.
Lead in drinking water can seriously impact human health, especially in young children, where even low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the
nervous system and learning disabilities.
The presence of lead is mostly due to legacy use of the metal in plumbing and distribution systems, and almost a quarter of the 25 million domestic properties
in England & Wales is estimated to have some lead in the supply network.
The cost of wholesale replacement of those pipes is calculated at around £7 billion, and the risk of exposure to lead through drinking water represents a
considerable challenge for the rest of the world too.
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are between six and 10 million lead service lines in use across the country.
The main objective of the partnership between Aquacheck and Manchester Metropolitan University was to develop a next generation screen-printed sensor
device to quantify lead presence in tap water in domestic properties. The research combined electrochemistry, chemistry, advanced manufacture and internet
of things research, which had not been previously applied to a handheld water sensing solution.
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Smart metering - Yorkshire Water to install 1m-plus devices including
360,000 smart meters by 2030
Following a successful pilot in Sheffield, Yorkshire Water has today announced the development of a region-wide smart metering framework which will see more
than 1 million devices, including 360,000 smart meters, fitted to homes and businesses by 2030. The roll-out of smart meters will be key to help drive targets for
water efficiency in households and businesses and deliver leakage service improvement and efficiency. The roll-out of smart meters will help Yorkshire Water to
play its role in delivering against DEFRA’s national water targets of reducing leakage by 50% by 2050.
Adam Smith, Manager of Smart Networks and Metering Transformation, said:
“We’re currently considering a range of approaches to our metering projects, as such we will be running a webinar to share more insights on our ambition. We
would like to hear from experienced third parties to understand how they can support the programme, including the use of innovative commercial and delivery
models such as Direct Procurement for Customers.
ABB And Wellington Water Nominated For 'Smart Water Project Of
The Year' In Global Water Awards 2023
ABB Measurement & Analytics is proud to announce that we have been nominated in this year’s Global Water Awards in the ‘Smart Water Project of the Year’
category for our collaboration with New Zealand's Wellington Water.
Asaleadingglobaltechnologycompany,ABBcollaborateswiththewaterandwastewaterindustryandhelpsacceleratechangethroughautomation,electrification,
and digital transformation.
In the Global Water Awards, we are recognized for our collaboration with Wellington Water, the water services provider in the Wellington region of New Zealand.
Wellington Water is responsible for supplying safe and healthy drinking water and collecting and treating wastewater.
ABB helped Wellington Water achieve a more resilient and future-ready water and wastewater network through the implementation of intelligent water
management technology.
ABB solutions control water pressure and monitor water flow in a way that’s sustainable, cost-effective, and safe. Built-in verification tools and anomaly detection
capabilities enable operators to secure the longevity of their devices with sophisticated asset management tools.
In addition to improving water management and water quality, the technology has helped Wellington Water reduce energy consumption.
“Innovation is at the core of everything we do, and I very much believe that technology holds the key to improving how we all live, work and play more
responsibly. I would like to thank my team for all the hard work and dedication they demonstrate every day in helping to make this a reality,” says Amina Hamidi,
Managing Director, ABB Instrumentation.
With the world’s population set to reach 10 billion by 2050, ensuring everyone has access to safe and clean water is a critical challenge. To preserve our planet's
water resources and ensure there is enough water for everyone, we need to carefully manage water supplies.
Global SWAN Technical Working Group Aims To Revolutionize The
Water Sector With Interoperability And Asset Data Standardization
The Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN) is excited to announce the formation of a new technical working group, Future Utility Group, comprising nine global
utilities. This timely initiative aims to collaboratively develop a digital ecosystem, with reference architecture and data structures, to support interoperable
applications and consistent asset data structures for water utilities worldwide.
The group's vision is to simplify digital solution adoption and procurement for water utilities, ensuring efficient solutions to benefit global citizens and nature.
Initial focus has been directed across two key areas: asset data structure and interoperability reference architecture.
The initial nine utilities participating include SWAN Members Anglian Water (represented by Darren Coleman), Greater Western Water (represented by Jennifer
Rebeiro), VCS Denmark (represented by Agnethe Pedersen), NEOM (represented by João Pedro Pitta), PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency (represented
by Ridzuan Ismail), Houston Water (represented by Fazle Rabbi and Satish Tripathi), Global Omnium/Aguas de Valencia (represented by César Gómez Ferrer),
NYCDEP (represented by Reginal Joseph), and Sydney Water (represented by Brendan Creek). The group's steering committee includes Agnethe Pedersen from
VCS Denmark, Jennifer Rebeiro from Greater Western Water, and SWAN Ambassador Gigi Karmous-Edwards from Karmous Edwards Consulting (KEC).
The Future Utility Group aims to address several challenges currently faced by the water sector, including the lack of plug-and-play capabilities, high start-up
costs, and the need for costly data integration efforts. By developing best practices and a reference architecture for simplified data exchange, the group hopes to
increase flexibility, ensure interoperability, and foster innovation and efficiency in the water sector.
To accelerate the development and adoption of best practices, this global group is inviting other SWAN utility members to join the initiative and collaborate on
this groundbreaking project. The group plans to conduct multiple proof of concepts (PoCs) on key cloud services like AWS and Azure, using the learnings to refine
their best practices and ensure that the water sector's digitisation is unlocked effectively. The group welcomes input from other SWAN Forum groups and member
companies as we start horizon scanning to kick start our focus on POC development.
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Article:
Instrumentation governance and
environmental performance
This month we saw the long-awaited release of the consultation from the English Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which is a consultation
on Section 82 of the Environment Act that will see the most expensive wastewater monitoring programme ever seen in the water industry in England & Wales
and arguably perhaps the world. It is a programme of instrumentation installation that will be eagerly watched across Europe as it has been included in the draft
version of the updated Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive too. The programme itself is going to cost billions of pounds and I've included a rough cost estimate
that I put together about 18 months ago which was ridiculed at the time for being far too high an estimate which almost prophetically proved to be a touch on
the low side for a programme of works which has alot less of a scope in terms of the sites identified.
What was noticeably missing from both of the consultation documents that was produced by DEFRA was any sort of thoughts about data governance. In short
how are we going to ensure that the data that is going to be produced by this massive instrumentation installation across the country is actually right and can be
trusted by the public. The importance of this cannot be under-estimated as the next largest programme of regulatory wastewater instrumentation monitoring
was the event duration monitoring programme that has been delivered across England & Wales for the past seven years. The history of this programme was that
there were no standards produced and no data governance in terms of making sure that the data is actually correct. It is fair to say that the EDM programme has
turned the water industry on its head with the annual reports of the number of spills to the environment proving to be grim reading with huge repercussions
across mainstream media. It would be fair to say that the old reputation of England being the "dirty man of Europe," is firmly at the forefront of peoples minds.
The problem is without data governance how are we to ensure that the data that is being produced is actually correct and representative of what is actually going
on? Well in short we don't. The last British and European Standard on wastewater monitoring was produced in 2003 and makes no mention of instrumentation
accuracy concentrating on differing aspects of ICA, in fact in that document there is not a single mention of the word "accuracy," The new version of the same
document that will be coming out later this year (or maybe early next) will firmly concentrate on instrumentation accuracy in fact there will be a requirement for
All instrumentation systems shall ensure the results of any monitoring are representative of the media being monitored taking into account
differences in homogeneity
or in layman's terms a duty to ensure that the results of any monitoring is correct.
So what should data governance look like especially for the Section 82 programme? Following the instrumentation life-cycle (an article which I have again
reproduced in this edition and can be read in full on the IWA Digital Water Programme website and has been reproduced in the BS CEN for ICA) we have to decide
the purpose of the monitoring - this is simple its regulatory and has to be delivered. There is a duty to produce the data and thus the programme of installation
must go ahead as the water companies are legally obliged to deliver it. A tick to step 1 as we know what has to be done and why.
Moving onto step 2 - what instruments do we install and how do we make sure that they are appropriate for the application. Well this was a mistake in the EDM
programme. There was no specification of what instrumentation had to be installed and no standards were set in advance. This, when the programme is brought
under the Monitoring Certification Scheme is set to be rectified by 2030. This potentially means that there will be thousands of reinstallations as the accuracy
requirements of the monitors are not met when they are independently inspected. Now with monitors which are much more expensive and more difficult to
use this is a mistake that cannot be repeated. At the moment there are no standards and no governance as to what the instrumentation should be but the water
companies are endeavouring to test things in the mean time. There are trials happening across the water industry with the most prominent being the one that
is going on in Yorkshire Water right now. How do we have a governance process for instrumentation selection? Well in fact to some extent it already exists and
the documentation is freely available on the Environment Agency website. There is a specification and testing procedure for most of the online monitoring that is
specified in Section 82 of the Environment Act. The policies and procedures need to revived and a directive to follow the MCERTS programme for online quality
instrumentation accepted. So in theory we have a policy and procedure around instrumentation selection and application that just needs to be accepted by the
Water Industry and utilised....half a tick for step 2.
Step 3 - Instrumentation Installation - No regulations exist and arguably the MCERTS approach of independent inspectors cannot be instigated as there is simply
not the skilled inspectors within the water industry, The current MCERTS Inspectors are experts in flow monitoring but not necessarily in water quality monitoring.
For an inspection team to be developed would take more time that the industry has as in reality the development of 20 -30 teams of inspectors is impractical. So
what can be done? The installation records and site acceptance testing along with samples being taken and analysed in a ISO certified laboratory should prove
enough to make sure that the measurement is correct although that still leaves a check to be made on the representativeness of the sampling point in the river
location. The instrument installation is also going to have to take physical safety of the device (from theft and flooding), aesthetics, and most importantly health
& safety into account as well as numerous other limitations like power, telemetry, access, land availability and a whole host of other things to be delivered.
Now from a governance point not all of these are relevant but what is relevant is whether what is installed is actually measuring what it should be measuring in
representative way.
Poor instrumentation installation is one of the biggest causes of measurement uncertainty
Step 4 - Operation - how are all of these monitors going to operate and how are they going to be maintained. There is the potential for the programme to operate
under a Data as a Service model with an external company covering all of the operation and maintenance of the devices. However the risk of monitors going
wrong still lies with the water company. There is then an additional governance process of the water company auditing their suppliers who are offering the service.
This is a wrinkle in the DaaS model as ultimately management systems will need to be in place to ensure that the data quality is right and this will require an almost
24/7 approach by any company which is expensive to deliver.
Depending upon the technology used and whether the monitoring on-site is using analytical techniques or is using a sonde-based approach there will be differing
levels of governance. With a sonde approach any laboratory that maintains the sondes and calibrates the probes will have to ensure that they are ISO17025 certified
and following good laboratory practice including the use of primary (traceable) standards which can be traced all the way back to national and international
primary reference materials. The probes themselves will then be tracked to each individual site, this is a logistical nightmare as in reality there will be need to
understand and trace hundreds of thousands of probes across the country. This is the minimum standard under good laboratory practice.
Page 14

Where there is analytical online monitors on-site there is a slightly easier path as maintenance visits can be minimised but there is equally difficult decision to be
taken as primary standards are not necessarily available and the number of teams of instrumentation technicians increases as the time on-site becomes longer.
In these instances where a traceable standard cannot be used there needs to be fall-back position of when a device gets maintained then a sample is sent to a
ISO certified laboratory for cross-checking.
All of this will of course have to be audited and this is where the Monitoring Certification Scheme comes into its strength again and England has processes that
work and have worked for years on a successful basis. The auditing of the management systems brings in a slight complication as results would need to be
audited and procedures around the installations looked at. The sheer number and level of detail that would need to be covered is a challenge but not a challenge
that is insurmountable
Step 5 is not actually relevant at this point in time apart from looking at the decommissioning and replacement of devices when they eventually go wrong and
what procedures are in place to ensure that the data is correct.
Data governance over wastewater regulatory monitoring has somewhat of a patchy history. Before the MCERTS programme there was an acceptance that the dry
weather performance of treatment works could not basically be regulated for as there were no truly reliable methods of flow monitoring. This changed with the
policies and procedures that were put into place and the accuracy of flow monitoring for the assessment of DWF compliance is not called into question. In fact
from a legal standpoint it is difficult to argue that a flow monitor isn't correct as the governance polices and procedures are in place. The same is happening at
the moment with the monitoring of flow to full treatment and the adoption of it under the MCERTS programme is a welcome step. Next up is the Event Duration
Monitoring on treatment works (in 2026) and then in the wider wastewater network (by 2030). At this point the industry will be able to rely on the accuracy
of the flow management across the treatment works with additional monitoring being put onto pumping station emergency overflows and in some cases pass
forward flows. This will actually enable the industry in beneficial ways that we have never seen before in the wastewater system including the development of
potentially hydraulic digital twins of the wastewater network providing the data is right (think Garbage in Garbage Out).
The one element that is missing in all of this is the governance around water quality monitoring of the wastewater system. The DEFRA consultation papers
promised this was being looked at separately and a governance procedure would be in place by Spring 2023 - as the consultation document was just released
presumably it was produced before Christmas and we can expect a governance procedure within the next three months. However there is alot more work to be
done involving stakeholder engagement across the water industry and the standards for FFT took the best part of four years to develop and so with as little as
two years to go before monitoring stations have to be in the ground there is precious little time left to put everything that needs to be put together, agreed and
put into practice before the first installations are started and things are all a little bit too late.
When evaluating digital water opportunities, let’s not forget the
markets outside of U.S. & Europe
When we talk about the digital transformation of the water industry, the focus often turns to advanced economies like the U.S., UK, and Australia. But as
competition heats up, leading companies are increasingly seeking greener pastures, turning their attention to emerging pockets of opportunity across Latin
America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. According to Bluefield’s global digital water forecast, emerging and developing markets will account for
roughly 30% of the US$387.5 billion in total global digital water spending expected over the next decade. In fact, digital water expenditure in emerging markets
is projected to scale at an annual rate of 11.4%, compared to 7.7% for advanced economies.
Digital water opportunities vary significantly by region, based on geography, demographics, income level and digital maturity. While utilities in emerging
markets are at earlier stages of their digital water journeys, this is creating vast opportunities for long-term market expansion. In China, large urban utilities are
making initial investments in core hardware and software solutions like meters, billing and customer management, and asset management platforms, creating
new growth opportunities in technology segments that have become more saturated in other parts of the world.
Keep an eye out for these trends driving digital water growth globally:
Rapid population growth, and urbanization spurring water infrastructure build-out, enabling technology leapfrogging. High population growth rates in Middle
Eastern markets incrementally expand the addressable market for metering and remote monitoring, while India is facing pressure to meet Sustainable
Development Goal targets for water and sanitation access for its fast-growing, increasingly urban population. This creates opportunities for technology
leapfrogging, with smart metering, remote monitoring, and SCADA capabilities embedded at the outset as part of new water supply networks and smart city
initiatives.
A focus on improved water management, in the face of water scarcity, is driving digital opportunities. The Middle East’s reliance on desalination and reuse
are driving an increased focus on digitalization at the plant level, while integrated smart city initiatives are creating showcase project opportunities to educate
the market. Israel is a regional leader with a water-centric approach to policy-making, a strong innovation culture, and a robust digital water start-up scene.
Infrastructureconvergencedrivesgreaterinvestmentinholisticnetworkandresourcemanagement.IntheGulfStates,waterismanagedbylargenationalmulti-
utilities enabling water operations to enjoy the spillover benefits of investment in cutting-edge customer service, remote monitoring, and asset management
platforms which are driven principally by the electric side of the business.
Private participation opens the door to innovation and digitalization. Utility consolidation and private participation in Latin American markets are opening
the door to greater investment in digital technology, though the region’s complex political-economic environment can create long project lead times. In Brazil
and Chile, increasing private participation in the water sector provides an avenue for greater market maturity, importation of foreign expertise, and a growing
emphasis on digitalization to drive efficiencies. The Chilean water industry is dominated by large, regional utilities backed by private capital, investing in
remote monitoring capabilities to better manage their vast networks.
Digital water opportunities are growing in every corner of the world, but each market is unique. Understanding local market structure, technology preferences,
policy shifts, and the competitive landscape is crucial, underscoring the need for reliable market intelligence.
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Article:
Instrumentation and
Digital Transformation
Whether you call it Digital Transformation, Water 4.0, or Smart Water, the water industry as a whole is changing drastically in the way that it operates. If you ask
a dozen people what these buzzwords mean, you will naturally get a dozen answers. It is because the Digital Transformation of the water industry is different for
different people and for different operational and management aspects of what is done to produce water, distribute it to customers, collect it, treat it, and put it
back to the environment.
From an operational point of view, we have to know what is going on within the water & wastewater system, and we have used instrumentation to tell us what
the situation is for years. So, what is new? Why should we digitally transform? What does it mean? It is a fact that the water industry has been monitoring its
assets for years. It is a fact we monitor what the customer uses for billing purposes, but it is also a fact that the vast majority of the data that is collected is either
collected in the wrong way or the data itself goes to waste as its use has never been well-defined. This is the general state of the water industry at the current time.
In recent years, we have heard about data mining, Big Data, and a plethora of techniques that can provide insights and realise value in the data we collect. To me,
this is where the Digital Transformation of the water industry starts, as there is a huge value in the data that the industry collects as long as that data is right. Of
course, the major source of data (but not the only one) is in the operational instrumentation that is out in the field and this is the subject of a recent paper that
has been written for the International Water Association.
Within Digital Transformation instrumentation is the source of data and, according to the SWAN Layers Diagram, it represents Layer 2 sitting on top of the physical
infrastructure layer. What we as an industry quite often don’t think about is that the underlying layer in the SWAN Layers is vital for the layer above. So naturally, as
the bottom-most layer in the concept of “Smart Water”, the layers representing telemetry & communications, visualisation, and analytics have no place without
the successful implementation of the instrumentation layer.
From this we can conclude that instrumentation is a fundamental part of the Digital Transformation of the water industry as it is where the potential begins and is
the fundamental source of where data come from. Instrumentation is present throughout water & wastewater systems and ranges from the use of smart meters
at a customer’s premises to what amounts to industrial instrumentation systems on the various network and treatment work systems within the water industry.
All the examples of where Digital Transformation has succeeded in the water industry so far have been based upon three basic tenants:
1. Good quality data from properly installed instrumentation;
2. A basic knowledge of the uncertainty of the data; and
3. A robust instrumentation maintenance processes, making sure that instrumentation accuracy is maintained.
Conversely, it has been poor quality data, from either poorly installed or poorly maintained instruments, that has resulted in the failure of some of the most
promising Digital Transformation projects.
For any Digital Transformation project to succeed, a data and information strategy needs to be put in place. This strategy can be in a specific area, such as
non-revenue water, or in a more generalised company-based operational area. An example of this is in the Global Omnium Digital Twin model built for the
City of Valencia (Conjeos,2020). This application-specific Digital Transformation project saw instrumentation installed along with dual redundancy on telemetry
outstations, coupled with an understanding of the accuracy of the instrumentation using general uncertainty principles. This has allowed the construction of a
hydraulic digital twin that enables operators to not only understand the system performance, but to use the system to predict future outcomes. Such functionality
can only be achieved using accurate instrumentation, which is ideally coupled with the instrumentation meta-data to provide full functionality of both visualisation
and analytics.
Clearly, with the right instrumentation, situational awareness of the system can be achieved, thus facilitating informed decision-making, which is where the value
exists for companies within the water industry. As an industry, we know that accurate instrumentation is an absolute must but does not always exist. Why not? Is
this due to resistance to the effective use of instrumentation?
Resistance To The Effective Use Of Instrumentation
Resistance to the effective use of instrumentation usually starts when instruments are not installed correctly or have been installed for little or no purpose. In
these circumstances, there can be a perception that an instrument is not correct which, in turn, leads to lack of maintenance of the instrument and, therefore,
additional wrong measurements.
This leads to a vicious circle where the instrument provides inaccurate or useless data — and therefore useless information — and is consequently abandoned.
The risk in this approach lies in the use of incorrect data, which, in some cases, can cause poor control of the treatment works and result in regulatory issues.
The root causes for a lack of trust in instrumentation are:
• Instrument reliability – There is resistance to the use of instrumentation to full effectiveness, as it is perceived as unreliable. This can be true
if an instrument was badly installed or installed in the wrong place. However, in other cases, the instrument reliability is compromised by
poor maintenance;
• The threat of instruments – The perceived threat that instrumentation and automation will be used to retrench or replace the workforce.
On the contrary, instrumentation should be a tool for operators to operate more efficiently by reducing the time spent manually analysing
samples;
• Over-design of the automation system – The design and then use of instrumentation so that the system is over-complicated and un-operable.
This causes a gap between the design engineer and the user;
• Poor use of current data and poor data management – Instrumentation that is currently in place at treatment works normally feeds through
to a SCADA system. However, the vast majority of data that the instruments produce is generally not used, leading to “data richness, but
Page 16

information poverty”;
• A lack of understanding of what instrumentation can achieve – There is generally a poor knowledge over what instrumentation can achieve
to deliver process control/advanced process control. Poor integration of the current instrumentation leads to the loss of most of data and
information that instrumentation produces, which results in poor efficiencies in current process control and the inability to utilise the
instrumentation to its full effectiveness;
• Lack of trust in instrumentation – Instrumentation is not trusted from the operator level to the corporate level, or at the regulatory level;
therefore, it cannot be used for regulatory compliance.
All of these examples cause barriers to the effective use of instrumentation and lead to poor confidence in adoption of the systems that will generate the data
to support Digital Transformation. The experience of these barriers has led to the development of the instrumentation life-cycle philosophy.
The Instrumentation Life-cycle
The instrumentation life-cycle has five stages. These are intended to take the designer and operator of instrumentation through the operational life of an
instrument and highlight early-on issues that could cause problems in the future. The first three stages of instrumentation life-cycle assessment are to help users
think about the process of instrumentation and understand the value that an instrument brings. The five stages are illustrated in Figure 1
Stage 1 – Instrumentation Purpose
The first stage defines what an instrument is going to be used for in the water or wastewater system, the data it will produce, and how this is going to satisfy an
information strategy, thus addressing and clarifying the real application of the instrument. The reason why an instrument is needed could be multiple, including
(but not limited to):
• Regulatory
• Financial
• Monitoring/Alert purposes only
• Asset Monitoring or Protection
• Control Purpose
Stage 2 – Instrument Specification
The second stage is the instrumentation specification and selection. For this, it is important to understand:
• What parameter is the instrument meant to measure (level, flow, temperature, state)?
• How is it meant to measure it? What technique is going to be used? What is the accuracy requirement? In what range it needs to operate?
What is the required response time and measurement frequency?
• What is the application (e.g., in the network, on the inlet or outlet of the treatment works)?
• What are the physical constraints of the measurement location?
• What are the power and communication requirements?
• How is the instrument going to be operated and maintained?
• What are the sample conditioning requirements such as sample delivery, filtration, and sample preparation, and how this going to affect
the measurement?
• What are the costs involved in the purchase and the operation of the instrument (e.g., ongoing chemical cost and/or ongoing consumable
costs)?
• What are the legal limitations of installing the instrument? If some legal schemes are in place, the instrument may have to reflect this
limitation.
The examples in this list, albeit not exhaustive, can have a significant impact on whether and how an instrument is installed.
Stage 3 – Instrument Installation
The third stage is to consider the instrument installation and how this is going to be achieved, including ability to access, verify, calibrate, maintain, and replace.
This is an iterative process, as an instrument may be ideal in terms of specification but not installation requirements.
At this stage, it is also vitally important to understand how the instrument is going to be maintained and eventually replaced. At the end of the instrumentation
asset life, where flows are passing through the works, replacement will result in significant disruptions and cost implications. If future replacement is considered
priortoinstallation,thecostoftheinstrumentanditsreplacementcanbesignificantlylessinthelongrun.Therefore,puttingtogetheranoperationalmaintenance
and instrumentation replacement plan is worth the investment in time.
Stage 4 – Operation
The fourth stage is the operation and maintenance of an instrumentation system. This should include an operation and maintenance plan based upon the
manufacturer’s guidelines and adapted based on practical evidence including:
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• Instrumentation cleaning frequency and methodology of how to achieve proper cleaning;
• Instrumentation end-to-end testing;
• Instrumentation calibration versus instrumentation primary verification;
• Instrumentation secondary verification techniques; and
• Instrumentation consumables (chemicals, wipers, etc.).
The operation and maintenance phases are circular during the life of the asset and can be measured using primary and secondary verification to predict when
an asset is likely to fail.
Stage 5 – Review & Replace
The fifth stage begins as the instrument is about to fail and comprises the review of its lifespan, its usefulness, and whether and how it is replaced.
In summary, the instrument life-cycle is a tool that is used to ensure the accuracy of instrumentation. This is absolutely vital within the Digital Transformation
concept as the majority of projects have failed due to poor-quality data.
Even from this summary article of the International Water Association white paper, we can see that instrumentation is a fundamental part of the Digital
Transformation of the water industry.
Siemens contributes to EPAL's energy neutrality
Following an international public tender, Siemens Portugal signed a contract with Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres (EPAL) for the installation of a water,
energy and greenhouse gases emission monitoring control center, the only one in the country, which includes the implementation of advanced telemetry
solutions that will help EPAL, which supplies Lisbon and its greater metropolitan area, achieve the goal of energy neutrality in its operations.
The telemetry, industrial communication and water and energy measurement solutions by Siemens will be installed in 188 of the main water collection, supply
and treatment infrastructures of EPAL and Águas do Vale do Tejo in Portugal. They represent about 80% of the installed capacity and energy consumption of
these two companies. The project covers the districts of Lisbon, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Santarém and Évora, i.e. a third of the continental territory,
which in turn equals about 33% of the national population or 3.5 million people.
The project includes the installation of a control center for water and energy management and monitoring of greenhouse gases emissions, which will allow water
and energy consumption to be measured more accurately and in real time. Additionally, it will allow for more efficient management of these infrastructures,
maximizing the use of EPAL's own renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic plants, mini-hydro plants and wind farms. By maximizing the use of its own
renewable energy resources, EPAL will boost its energy resilience in periods of grid unavailability, and also enhances the sustainability of its operations by
reducing greenhouse gases emissions.
"This is a very important project in terms of resilience, macroeconomics and national competitiveness, because it prevents that the country is subject to the
whims of the global energy markets which, in turn, are subject to political issues and wars in various regions. These are factors that, naturally, Portugal cannot
control and, consequently, suffers the consequences." As for the new private power grid, EPAL's CEO, José Sardinha, noted that "it will be an underground grid,
which was not designed this way by mere chance. We did this to maximize resilience – so many things can happen, such as floods, fires, and other events.
This way, our grid is completely protected and insulated from extreme phenomena/events. As well as to minimize all environmental impacts associated with a
surface grid. In short, more euros, more safety, less CO2."
Within the scope of this project, Siemens, by way of Digital Industries, will be responsible for all engineering, planning, installation, and commissioning of
the telemetry, water and energy measurement, and redundant industrial communication solutions. Siemens will also develop customized software for EPAL's
control center, including data visualization and data analytics modules that will optimize infrastructure management. By processing data intelligently, the
software developed by Siemens will enable faster, more efficient and safer management and decision-making, and will help EPAL and Águas do Vale do Tejo
provide an even more reliable service to their customers.
LuísBastos,HeadofDigitalIndustriesatSiemensPortugal,statedthat"wearepleasedtobepartofthisproject,whichisenormouslyrelevanttothenationalwater
industry, a fundamental element in all our lives, and to support EPAL in achieving its goals towards energy neutrality by optimizing both efficient management
and remote control of its assets. We are very proud to contribute with our best know-how, so that Portugal will have the first fully self-sustainable company and
Water Treatment Plant in the world". Adding "this ambitious project is yet another example of how we can partner with Portuguese companies in their digital
and environmental transformation journeys".
The scope for which Siemens is responsible is part of 'Programa EPAL 0%', which aims to achieve energy neutrality in all operations by 2025, by way of an
integrated mix of technological solutions: energy efficiency actions, production of own energy from renewable sources by installing hydroelectric, wind, and
photovoltaic power plants, micro-grids, digitalization, and storage operations in water reservoirs.
Page 18

Article:
Artificial intelligence in
water cycle management
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the technology everyone is talking about this year, and it is a trend that water utilities cannot ignore. However, how can artificial
intelligence really help in water cycle management?
Artificial intelligence is one of the most important and exciting technologies of the 21st century. In fact, it has increased its ranking in the main search engines
by 139% compared to last year, which gives an idea of the attention it is receiving.
Artificial intelligence is a field of computer science that focuses on creating machines capable of performing tasks that would normally require human intelligence,
such as reasoning, learning and problem-solving. This is a characteristic of all algorithms, including those that are capable of learning and those that are not: the
goal of all algorithms is to perform calculations to solve problems. Artificial intelligence now introduces the “learning” part, which is relatively new.
This is why this technology is key in almost every field. However, the advantages it can offer the water cycle mean that artificial intelligence has become an
essential element for more sustainable management of water resources:
One of the main advantages of AI is its ability to process large amounts of data and learn from it. This enables data scientists and software engineers to create
algorithms and systems that can identify data patterns and trends which, in turn, can help water utilities make more informed and more accurate decisions.
Along these lines, the paper “Trends in Artificial Intelligence for 2022: building learning into processes“, outlined four types of machine learning:
• Supervised: in this type of learning, prior knowledge of the problem is used as the valid hypothesis to be able to characterize new cases in the future.
• Unsupervised: this is used when an employee has no previous knowledge about the issue to be solved, but there is information about its
characteristics.
• Semi-supervised: In this case, we have data that gives us prior knowledge of the problem and other data that does not. Both sets enrich the
information needed to solve the problem.
• By reinforcement: this one differs in that it is rule-based and deals with action/reaction type information to be modeled, the objective of which is
to maximize the reward function.
Another advantage is that if artificial intelligence is added to standard automation, it controls and reduces errors, improving the accuracy of the results, which
are calculated at high computational speed thanks to its supporting infrastructure. Thus, utilities can make better decisions as they have real-time information
about what is happening in the infrastructure
Five applications of artificial intelligence in the water cycle
There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (having an increasing impact on water cycle management, but how can it really be applied, and where can it be of
real assistance?
The world’s population continues to grow (United Nations estimates that by 2037 we will reach 9 billion people), and with the consequent increase in demand for
water, with 2.2 billion people not having access to drinking water services (UNICEF, 2019) AI is increasingly being used to optimize water management, identify
and prevent potential emergencies, and improve water supply efficiency, among others. Five applications of artificial intelligence in water cycle management
are listed below:
Page 19

1. One of the ways in which AI is being used in water management is to monitor and analyze water cycle data. This includes checking water
quality, tracking water use, and identifying potential problems in water supply infrastructure. AI is used to analyze large amounts of data in
real time, enabling utilities to detect potential issues before they turn into crises.
2. Water demand management: AI can be used to predict water demand and to optimize water supply throughout the day. This can help water
utilities reduce water waste and ensure that water demand is met effectively.
3. AI is also used to predict and mitigate potential risks associated with the water cycle. For example, flooding is a constant threat in many
cities and communities. AI can be used to analyze weather and water level data and predict when flooding is likely to occur. This enables
local authorities to take preventive measures and evacuate people from high-risk areas before it is too late.
4. In addition, AI can also improve water supply efficiency. This includes identifying leaks, detecting pressure-related problems and optimizing
water flow. As stated in the whitepaper “Water Technology Trends 2023 report”, AI models can be used to optimize water supply, minimize
costs, reduce water losses, and improve the energy efficiency of infrastructures. This can help reduce operation and maintenance costs, as
well as improving access to clean water.
5. Air quality monitoring: AI can also be used to monitor air quality in water treatment plants. This can detect and prevent air pollution
problems, which can have a negative impact on water quality.
In short, AI has huge potential to improve water management around the world. Data analytics can be used to optimize water management, prevent potential
emergencies, and improve water supply efficiency. As we face challenges such as population growth, climate change and water scarcity as a result, artificial
intelligence is proving to be an increasingly valuable tool to ensure an efficient and safe water supply is accessible to all.
The urgent need for digital transformation in the water sector
If we all agree that water is critical for life, growth, and prosperity, then we need a new approach to ensure enough water for all (people, planet, and profit).
Climate change, natural disasters, population growth, urbanisation, and human-driven events like pandemics, war, and social instability have accelerated the
water crisis. A crisis underpinned by poor water management, inadequate and outdated infrastructure, insufficient investments, and struggling water utilities.
This has resulted in inefficient water services across many cities worldwide, albeit to varying degrees.
The water crisis is no longer “looming” — it is here. According to UNICEF, four billion people — almost two-thirds of the world’s population — experience severe
water scarcity over certain periods. The factors driving water scarcity are undoubtedly many and complex; however, bolder, more urgent action is needed to
introduce and scale what works well, reduce or eliminate what doesn’t, and pursue new and more innovative solutions. One such solution is digitalisation.
We already know why we’re doing this: We need water to survive. We already know how to do this: we have the technologies and digital solutions, access to a
global knowledge pool, and the ever-increasing availability of vast amounts of data and data processing capacity. And we know what we need to do. There are
many examples and experiences to draw from, including: predictive software adoption to automate and control water systems across the Netherlands; real-time
incident reporting and handling digital systems in Uganda; smart asset management systems for improved operations and maintenance of water infrastructure
in Brazil; wastewater network optimisation tooling to avoid flooding in the USA, to name a few.
Now, we need to act. It starts with a shift in mindset and an acceptance that the “business as usual” approach to water management is no longer adequate or
acceptable. We cannot rely on what worked in the past when dealing with radical changes in the world and an uncertain future.
In my view, there are three things we need to start doing. First, we need to start thinking differently about how we preserve, use, and reuse water. We need
to better align on issues and priorities and adopt a broader national and global agenda – from policies to planning to budgeting. Second, we need to share our
collective experiences, best practices, and expertise, especially around digital solutions. Finally, we need to engage all because the water crisis impacts all: the
public sector, which is often tasked with water management; the private sector, which commands extensive resources and can foster and drive digitalisation at a
much faster pace; academia and research institutions, which bring a wealth of knowledge and are a prime source of innovation and invention, and civil society,
which has a vested interest in the sector's success.
Digital technologies and solutions such as digital twins, IoT (Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and BIM (Better Information Management) offer
unlimited potential to transform the water sector for the better. The benefits are numerous, and the value undeniable, namely: enhanced operational efficiency
and optimisation resulting in increased affordability, greater transparency, enhanced social and economic (water) security and resilience, and improved
environmental protection and sustainability,
The digitalisation of the water sector is by no means a quick, all-encompassing fix to the water crisis. Although there can be almost immediate impacts, the true,
long-lasting results/ benefits will take a while to realise. But they will become apparent in the form of cost savings, resource optimisation, and healthier systems,
cities, and societies.
Page 20

Article:
The cost of monitoring our rivers
The wastewater industry has come into a lot of criticism at the moment for the poor state of rivers in the UK. The actual state of the rivers is not in contention,
the fact that they are polluted and not of good chemical or biological status is a fact and it is a fact that must change. The Environment Bill that is currently going
through the various layers of government and is set to change everything. Hopefully some good learning points will come from the results of the Environment
Audit Committee. Watching the proceedings over the past few months has been a mix of interesting, disturbing, and down-right infuriating as the various
reasons for the state of our rivers have been highlighted.
Monitoring has been put front and centre as a must do but, for me at least, there is a concern that the monitoring that is being proposed is to some extent not
enough and to another extent too much. In the rest of this article I am going to give a potted history of monitoring of the wastewater system as it currently
stands including some of the plans moving forward, a cost analysis of what I think the current Environment Bill monitoring demands will cost and my opinion of
at least some of the steps that I personally thing we should do to help monitor the grave situation in the aquatic environment.
Monitoring the wastewater system
Traditionally. monitoring of the wastewater system has concentrated on monitoring the wastewater treatment works. This after all is where monitoring has a
clearly defined purpose of telling operators how their treatment works are performing. For example, how much flow is being treated and whether a filter arm
is turning round or a tank has reached its capacity. The data that is produced is used to action something whether it is a tanker going to site to empty a tank
or, through a bit of number crunching and analysis, whether a site needs a capital scheme to make it larger or the pipework needs maintenance to remove
infiltration from the system. The actions from instrumentation can be tactical or strategic depending upon what the short to long term results are.
The wastewater network has traditionally been largely unmonitored apart from a few level sensors are pumping stations or perhaps a flow meter or two with
some companies installing much more in areas due to particular reasons but on a case by case basis. There are exceptions of course to this but in the main it
is fair to say that this has been the state of the water industry. This changed in the past asset management period when under a ministerial direction which
empowered the water companies to take action a large number of event duration monitors were installed on the “relief valves” of the sewerage network – the
CSOs.
Now let’s take a diversion into what a CSO is and why it is there. Largely CSOs or combined sewer overflows are a historic artefact of the construction of the
gravity section of the wastewater network. The combined sewer network is designed to take wastewater and stormwater. It should cope absolutely fine in dry
weather but in extreme wet weather the CSO is there to protect the customer from experiencing the contents of the sewer from entering their house by backing
up toilets. Protecting the customer of course is paramount. Of course, in the past twenty years or so the advent of increased bad weather and almost more
importantly for the combined sewer the advent of serious sewer misuse has meant that the sewerage system has been stretched to its limit and the advent of
dry weather spilling or spilling in less than extreme conditions has become more and more common.
All this led to the ministerial direction on Event Duration Monitors to tell everybody how often and for how long the contents of the sewerage network was
spilling to the environment. From 2015 -2020, if these monitors hadn’t already been installed on the sewerage network then, as the ministerial direction stated,
they were installed on the vast majority of the approximately 18,000 CSOs that are present on the hundreds of thousands of miles of sewer in the UK. Practically
the vast majority has become everything as water companies are currently finishing off installing EDMs on every CSO asset.
Its this EDM data that has been published as “open data” that is the source of the headlines by the various national newspapers that have splashed the fact
that in 2020 there were 400,000 spills to the aquatic environment. Here comes the first problem – the EDM programme was one of the few truly national
programmes with no real standards set at a national level. There has been no independent inspections as to the data quality and although it was an excellent
thing to do doubts over the absolute validity of the “400,000” figure has got to be questioned. However, at the moment, the data is what it is and it has to be
taken as read. On the back of this data there have been some excellent visualisation work by The Rivers Trust to disseminate the information to the public. On a
coastal basis this was already being done by the water companies, one of the exceptions to the rule of the “largely unmonitored” statement and the data was
shared with organisations such as Surfers Against Sewage.
Now with CSOs, in an ideal world, this is where there is an opportunity to actually provide more data. With modern technology we have hyper-local forecasting,
we have the potential to make the EDM data as near to real-time as needed. Thorough collaboration we can actually share with the public what is happening
with the state of the wastewater collection network and show the public how it is performing in a variety of conditions. By proving this point we are collecting
vital asset data, showing where the investment in the sewer or in rainfall delay schemes using sustainable urban drainage system can mitigate the environmental
damage. By refining the work that was done by the water companies in 2015-2020 we can collect some very valuable insight. This isn’t necessarily installing
more sensors but utilising the data that is already there. The question is why?
The 400,000 spills to the river environment is a figure that most people will be familiar with in England & Wales as it has been splashed across the newspapers
and is regularly used however it is actually a crude number as that number will comprise of:
• Genuine spills in extreme wet weather that has happened to protect customers properties from flooding.
• Spills that are due to sewer misuse and are down to blockages caused by wet wipes & fats, oils and greases that the water company either
don’t know about or haven`t found out about in time. There are some good techniques to discover sewer blockages but it does take a bit
of detective work to find them, this takes time.
• Asset failure – sometimes things break or even worse partly fail – this can cause pollution incidents and is within the remit of the water
company but again can be difficult to detect when you have hundreds of thousands of miles of sewer to look after
• Are genuine pollution events cause by a failure in the system – for example a pump in a pumping station failing that cause a back up of the
sewer in a related gravity sewer
• A combination of the above
Page 21

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