The effects of climate change are putting significant stress on municipal infrastructure, and water networks in particular. Integrated Flow Solutions that combine a wide range of materials and components with modularity and prefabrication are ideally suited to increase network resilience. Leveraging their expertise in municipal infrastructure, GF and VAG are already delivering a measurable impact in the field with their NeoFlow Plug-and-Play Chamber.
The urgency of this transformation is evident. Water as an essential resource is impacted by three major trends: Climate change, urbanization and ageing infrastructure are putting unprecedented pressure on municipal water networks worldwide. On the one hand, extreme weather events have become more frequent. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) estimates that for every additional degree of global warming, the atmosphere can absorb 7% more moisture, which significantly increases the likelihood of heavy rainfall (IPCC Sixth Assessment Report). This puts infrastructure such as drainage and sewer systems under significant stress.
At the same time, water scarcity is intensifying due to the effects of climate change. Northern Europe’s historic precipitation deficit between February and April 2025 is only one example of many (German Meteorological Service - DWD ). Water scarcity is further exacerbated by population growth, leading experts to predict that water demand will exceed supply by 40% by the year 2030 (UNEP IRP).
Climate change, urbanisation and ageing infrastructure are putting unprecedented pressure on municipal water networks worldwide
Lastly, many water networks are struggling due to the combination of increasing urbanisation and ageing water infrastructure. In many countries, a significant portion of potable water is lost through leakages before it ever reaches an outlet. Across the EU, estimates are as high as 25% (EC Water Resilience Strategy). This issue is compounded by a lack of skilled labour experienced across the municipal water sector.
So how can these three major challenges be met? While they have complex and varied causes, it has become clear that strengthening water infrastructure is the key to a more resilient water supply. But in order to achieve this goal efficiently and cost-effectively, it is crucial to rethink the way water infrastructure is designed, installed, and operated.
From material diversity to system compatibility
Water networks are rarely homogeneous. Decades of incremental expansion, varying standards and codes, as well as conservative planning mean that mixed-material water networks, where iron, steel, concrete and polymers coexist, are standard. This adds complexity while operating and maintaining these networks: Mismatched components, incompatible materials, or installation errors can impact performance and increase the probability of leakages, failure or inefficient operation.
Integrated Flow Solutions address this challenge at the system level. Rather than treating pipes, valves, and sensors as separate items, they are engineered to function as a unified system. This ensures material compatibility and reduced installation complexity, while leveraging connection methods specifically designed for mixed-material piping simplifies the integration in existing networks. Overall, this approach greatly lowers the risk of leakages, which in turn minimises maintenance costs.
Pressure management as a key lever against water loss
Especially in ever-expanding cities, water networks are frequently over-pressurised to meet growing demands, shortening the lifespan of pipes and fittings and causing leakages. One of the most effective tools for reducing non-revenue water is therefore pressure management.
Pressure reducing valves (PRVs) are widely considered an ideal solution as they reduce the flow rates of existing leaks and limit unnecessary mechanical stress on the infrastructure, resulting in lower burst rates and prolonged asset life. Studies indicate that lowering the pressure of water networks by 25% reduces the occurrence of pipe bursts by up to 75% while extending asset lifespan (EU Reference document “Good Practices on Leakage Management WFD CIS WG PoM”). Combined with hydraulic modelling and optional instrumentation such as sensors and flow meters, pressure reducing valves are an efficient solution for district metering areas (DMAs).
Streamlined installation thanks to pre-fabrication
Pipes, valves, and sensors should be engineered as a unified system for better compatibility and a simpler installation
In order for integrated Flow Solutions to have a lasting impact on water networks, it is not enough to focus on the seamless interaction of pipes, valves and sensors. The ability to quickly implement them whenever and wherever they are needed is crucial for operators and installers. However, across the EU, labour and skills shortages have reached critical levels, particularly in infrastructure‑intensive sectors such as construction, utilities, and mechanical installation. For utilities, this shortage translates directly into longer project timelines, higher execution risk, and increased dependence on external contractors. As a result, utilities are increasingly prioritising speed, predictability, and simplicity of execution over bespoke designs that demand high labour intensity.
This shift is accelerating the adoption of integrated flow solutions, where piping systems, valves, monitoring components, and connection interfaces are engineered as standardised, pre‑assembled units. Prefabricated and factory‑tested solutions reduce on‑site installation time, minimise specialised labour requirements, and lower the risk of assembly errors, enabling utilities to deploy infrastructure with a plug‑and‑play approach. By transferring complexity from the construction site to controlled manufacturing environments, utilities can compensate for workforce constraints while maintaining high quality and safety standards. Crucially, prefabrication also provides a high degree of flexibility, allowing utilities to tailor flow solutions to their individual needs.
Integrated Flow Solutions by GF
Pressure reducing valves are an ideal solution as a pressure-reduction of 25 per cent can reduce the occurrence of pipe bursts by up to 75%
Swiss company GF is reshaping itself to become the global leader for Flow Solutions for Buildings, Industry and Infrastructure. With the acquisition of the German VAG-Group in October 2025, GF now benefits from VAG’s globally recognised metal valve technologies, which significantly strengthen GF’s infrastructure portfolio, deepening its system capabilities. By combining GF’s polymer piping systems and connection technologies and VAG’s high-performance metal valves — including gate, knife-gate, butterfly, penstock, control, check and air valves used in critical infrastructure such as water networks, dams, desalination and power plants — GF can now deliver end-to-end flow solutions for the water sector. The goal of the acquisition is to improve compatibility across components, simplify sourcing and logistics, strengthen local support, and provide solutions designed to reduce leakages, lower maintenance costs, and increase network longevity. This is supported by VAG’s ability to supply both commodity standards and customised solutions for a huge variety of valves.
Renewing ageing water networks efficiently
In the wake of increasingly strained infrastructure, which loses significant volumes of treated water before reaching consumers, many utilities are modernising their networks with the goal of improving performance and reducing losses.
Sabesp, the largest sanitation company in Brazil, provides water supply and wastewater services to 375 municipalities in the state of São Paulo. To support its renewal program, GF supplied a NeoFlow Plug-and-Play Chamber that integrates multiple GF technologies (GF, Uponor, VAG) into one compact, high-performance unit. GF's solution reduces water loss, increases operational efficiency, and provides a future-ready platform that accelerates the network's modernization efforts.
Labour shortages have reached critical levels in EU countries. Pre‑fabricated and factory‑tested solutions are the answer
Because the chamber arrives fully assembled, installation required only half a day — limited to excavation, positioning and connection. Sabesp now benefits from a measurable sustainability impact, as the plug-and-play solution saves approximately 130 million litres of water per year, which is enough to supply around 3,000 people. By stabilising pressure, it also lowers energy consumption and protects the piping system from bursting. With a chamber designed for up to 100 years and internal components lasting up to 50 years, it further enhances the environmental footprint, lowers maintenance requirements, and total lifecycle costs for Sabesp.
Conclusion
As climate change, urbanization and ageing infrastructure continue to strain water networks worldwide, integrated flow solutions provide a practical and scalable pathway to greater network resilience. The example of Sabesp in Brazil demonstrates that measurable results (significant reductions in water loss, operating costs and non-revenue water) can be achieved without large-scale reconstruction. When engineering expertise, high-performance components and smart design converge, water infrastructure becomes more efficient, durable and adaptable.
Visit GF & VAG at IFAT from 4-7 May in Munich, Germany:
- GF booth: B3.351
- VAG booth: C2.451
