ABB has secured a major contract with Vitens, the Netherlands' leading provider of drinking water, delivering 340 billion litres annually to over six million people. The project will focus on modernizing Vitens' process automation system, which includes upgrading around 200,000 input/output (I/O) connectors across approximately 250 sites. This initiative is expected to enhance operational efficiency and ensure adherence to industry standards. The contract was finalized in the second quarter of 2024.
The collaboration between Vitens and ABB will be rolled out in two phases. Initially, ABB will develop a detailed plan and implement a pilot project at one of Vitens' locations. Upon successful completion of the pilot, the remaining Vitens facilities will be gradually transitioned to the new system over the next seven years.
Central to the upgrade is the deployment of ABB’s Ability™ System 800xA® Distributed Control System (DCS). This system will streamline operations across all Vitens' plants, integrating current automation protocols into a unified structure. The new system will lower maintenance costs and reduce operational complexity while offering centralized visibility. Operators will gain better oversight of key data points, such as water quality, flow rates, contaminant levels, and leak detection, from a single control room. Vitens, which operates 48,000 kilometres of pipelines, will also benefit from strengthened cybersecurity measures and more robust, efficient operations.
This automation upgrade aligns with the broader global trend towards digitalization in the water industry, which focuses on increasing efficiency, sustainability, and resilience to meet challenges such as water shortages, ageing infrastructure, and regulatory demands.
“The increasing demand for drinking water, the growing number of technical experts in our business reaching retirement age, and the constant geopolitical cyberthreat pose a tremendous challenge for this vital operation in the Netherlands. Safe, reliable, and standardized process automation is essential to ensure the continuous and sustainable supply of water to our customers," said Matthijs Zwart, CIO at Vitens. "ABB has qualified as our partner to achieve this ambition. Our collaboration combines ABB's expertise in process automation with our experience in producing drinking water.
In support of Vitens, ABB will provide an ongoing service agreement to ensure the longevity of the installed system, including regular technology updates. The upgraded system will also comply with the latest cybersecurity and information security standards, such as IEC 62443 and ISO 27001, in line with the European Network and Information Security (NIS2) directive. Additionally, Vitens aims to adopt the ISA106 standard, further enhancing operational safety and efficiency.
“At ABB, we are focused on conserving and preserving groundwater to make sure that every drop of this precious natural resource counts,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries. “This collaboration with Vitens marks a significant step towards building a future-proof automation architecture in the water sector.”
This project represents ABB’s sixth collaboration on water automation systems in the Netherlands. The company's suite of water management solutions is designed to address challenges such as water scarcity, improve water quality, and increase energy efficiency, ensuring reliable water distribution from source to consumer.
