Print Edition 23: The power of digitalisation: Siemens' roadmap to a sustainable water future

We are pleased to announce the release of the September issue of Smart Water Magazine – Print Edition, where we delve into the transformative impact of digitalisation in the water sector. Our cover story features an insightful interview with Anja Eimer, General Manager, Global Water Industry at Siemens, who discusses how digital innovation is driving a more sustainable and efficient future in water management. This edition highlights groundbreaking projects and initiatives that demonstrate the power of digital technologies. We explore how Brønderslev Water Company in Denmark, with the help of Diehl Metering, has halved water losses through smart solutions, and the possibilities offered by the integration of 5G and satellite integration for global IoT connectivity and critical infrastructure management in a feature by Datakorum. In partnership with Microsoft, Aganova showcases how digitalisation is enhancing the detection and repair of leaks in water transport networks, while Idrica spearheads the integration of AI and big data for advanced river basin management. Our interviews provide further insights from industry leaders, including Matthew Stephenson of Badger Meter on software solutions driving operational efficiency, and with SWPC, on the company’s plans for expanding water infrastructure and attracting private investment. Join us as we explore these and other stories of innovation, collaboration, and the future of water management in this essential issue.

Features

Brønderslev Water Company leverages Diehl Metering’s smart solutions to halve water losses and set a new digital innovation standard.

Almar Water Solutions pioneers sustainable water supply for Centinela Mining, using seawater and renewable energy to reduce impact.

Aganova partners with Microsoft to detect and repair leaks in water transport networks, enhancing sustainability and efficiency.

Idrica leads the digital revolution in river basin management, integrating AI and big data to enhance sustainable water resource strategies.

Discover how Hidroconta's Centaurus meters are transforming water management with cutting-edge technology and global reach.

Learn from Datakorum how 5G and satellite integration ensure reliable, global IoT connectivity, transforming critical infrastructure management.

SWM explores the rising cyber threats to U.S. water systems and the critical need for enhanced defences and regulatory frameworks.

Interviews

Interview with Anja Eimer, General Manager, Global Water Industry at Siemens

Water is becoming as critical an issue as CO₂, with a rising demand to secure this precious resource, particularly in the industrial sector
Digital solution tools can help reduce the manpower required to operate infrastructure and extend the life of existing systems
Siemens serves nearly every country with our water and wastewater portfolio, collecting market requirements and driving product innovation
In addition to our three strategic pillars, Siemens drives growth through key initiatives aligned with our Siemens Xcelerator vision
Siemens Xcelerator, our open business platform, aims to simplify our customers' experiences by providing an interoperable portfolio
Our key differentiators are the high quality, longevity, and resilience of our products, and we are committed to maintaining these standards
We excel in optimization, covering the entire water cycle and focusing on enhancing resource efficiency through monitoring and optimization
At the beginning of this year, we launched a campaign called the Non-Revenue Water Campaign, which integrates various portfolio elements

Interview with Matthew Stephenson, Director of Software Product Management at Badger Meter

The water sector is blessed with game-changing technologies that continue to transform the industry and help meet ever-tougher operating needs
Everyone is heading toward an understanding that, “if you can't monitor it, you can't manage it,” and most utilities are driven to work smarter
The decision to go wider on our core offerings, leading with BlueEdge, and supporting utilities across their digital journey, is most exciting
Today Badger Meter brings visibility to our utility customers through new measurement devices and platforms to bring data together
Badger Meter has extended its measurement capabilities to offer utilities a whole picture of what might be happening in their networks
We aim at supporting utilities to move from reactive to proactive response to issues and ultimately helping improve consumer satisfaction
Through BlueEdge we support utilities with managing that quantity of data and squeezing out insights that are highly valuable for them
Our utility customers absolutely expect connectivity because they see how the world has moved on with digital connectivity in their own life

Interview with Saudi Water Partnership Company

The company is committed to implementing sustainable practices, such as integrating renewable energy in desalination and wastewater treatment
SWPC introduced advanced desalination technologies with a 25-year BOO model, achieving the world's lowest levelized tariff at $0.41/m³
SWPC is focusing on enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of its operations by leveraging advanced technologies and renewable energy sources
SWPC has significantly expanded its project portfolio, with 50 projects in various stages of development, amounting to over $30 bn
SWPC focuses on projects that adopt advanced technologies and strategies to enhance water efficiency and promote sustainable conservation
The Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has set ambitious plans to tender an additional 10 projects within the next 5-6 years
SWPC is dedicated to enhancing the water infrastructure in Saudi Arabia through its ambitious plans within the water ecosystem
SWPC works to foster strong communication channels between all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and swift resolution of any disputes

Interview with Geir Norden, R&D expert for Filtralite inside Leca International, part of Saint-Gobain Group

We strive to tailor our solutions to the specific requirements of our customers, whether to enhance water quality, or increase water production
We have developed different filter material particle densities and sizes in our products to accommodate a wide range of filtration processes
Many of our customers conduct their own internal testing, and we are proud to have results from partners like Suez, Aqualia, and Saur
Filtralite provides the same treatment process as sand but consistently outperforms it in water quality, filtration velocity, and head loss
Compared to sand, our filter media requires less frequent backwashing, leading to fewer filter stops and significant savings in water and energy
Saint-Gobain Group’s strategy is to find innovative solutions to reduce CO₂ emissions at every stage, from production to transport
In desalination plants, Filtralite extends the lifespan of RO membranes and allows for higher levels of suspended solids in the inlet water
Filtralite has resulted in a 100% satisfaction rate among our customers; no one has ever expressed a desire to revert to their previous solution

Interview with Francisco Castillo, Senior VP - Chief Information Officer at Maynilad Water Services.

Integrating OT with IT offers numerous benefits and has proven to be advantageous for companies worldwide, not only for utilities
OT has the data, but it is in a “raw” form. However, by integrating it with IT, we can use IT tools to turn that into information
In Maynilad, we started building our IoT platform in 2012, with the intention of it acting as a repository of all technical data
Currently, 80 per cent to 90 per cent of Maynilad’s NRW are due to leaks and up to 90 per cent of these leaks do not surface
Integrating artificial intelligence into Maynilad's operations enhances our NRW program by augmenting our leak detection capabilities
Maynilad was able to find 1,525 leaks from these segments resulting in an average output of two leaks per kilometre of inspection
Asterra applies algorithmic analysis to track the spectral “signature” of potable water underground captured in a satellite image
Ensuring compliance with data protection regulations and standards is essential, particularly when handling sensitive customer data.

Interview with Norio Saito, Senior Director, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, Asian Development Bank

ADB does not only finance infrastructure and service improvements, but also helps strengthen policies, institutions, and regulations
Over 500 m and 1.14 bn people still lack access to basic water supply and safely managed sanitation, respectively, in Asia and the Pacific
WFPF has catalysed more than $9.5 billion in innovative and sustainable water investment, benefitting 122 million people in the region
The Water Organizations Partnership for Resilience (WOP4R) is a programme that pairs utilities across the globe to learn from each other
ADB hopes to expand private sector participation and non-sovereign operations for all aspects of water security and resilience
ADB will push for accelerated climate financing, public-private sector collaboration, and new financing modalities that derisk water investments
ADB was able to help significantly reduce non-revenue water from 40-50% to about 20% in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Colombo, Sri Lanka
Addressing climate change and supporting development are not one or the other; we can design projects and programmes that contribute to both

Interview with Paul Weir, Water Quality Excellence Manager, Scottish Water

At the forefront of our efforts is the commitment to working in partnerships, ensuring that we operate at the cutting edge of current thinking
The climate threat is accelerating in Scotland year after year as we feel the effects of more extreme events on an ageing asset base
We have been responding to the climate challenge, assessing risks, and building resilience in our business and investment plans
Ion exchange and membrane technologies have become central to our asset adaptation planning, offering safe and highly effective treatment
At Scottish Water we operate a “carbon reduction hierarchy” and a “20 Golden Rules” philosophy when working with our delivery partners
Carbon is a key consideration for us on every project and we engage with our investment partners in these discussions right from the start
Transitioning to Remote Operating Centres, where pump adjustments can be made from 100 miles away, will undoubtedly offer tremendous value
I would love to see an investment increase in management digital tools to help support, educate our people in front-line water operations

Interview with Lara Olsen, Managing Director, South East Water

The Digital Metering Program has been a key part of our South East Water’s strategy for future-proofing the water network since early trials
Our aim is to replace 1 million traditional water meters with upgraded digital meters by 2029, one of many ways we are optimising operations
Our NB-IoT digital meters deliver rich, customisable data points and built in alarms, so we can deliver a better customer experience
The end-to-end solution for the remote collection of digital meter data was reliable, efficient and able to immediately show customer benefits
We have established a plumbing referral process with our plumbing partner to offer free virtual leak audits and identify the location of leaks
When customers understood the benefit of digital meters, they supported a small increase on their bill to pay for the meters
Our network-wide rollout approach is slow and steady, giving us the necessary time to adapt to new work processes and system changes
We’re really excited to be able to share the technology and systems we’ve developed with other water utilities both locally and globally

Interview with Roy Coley, Director of Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department

Investments include infrastructure system hardening so our plants can maintain operation even during severe weather events such as hurricanes
The Ocean Outfall Legislation Program requires Florida utilities to reduce wastewater discharges using existing ocean outfalls by 2025
WASD will use heat exchangers and treated wastewater to provide cooling to buildings and processes at wastewater treatment plants
Upgrades to the Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant include injection wells and pump stations as the primary source of effluent disposal
By the end of 2025, planned improvements will reduce nutrient discharges significantly, and 60% of the baseline wastewater flow will be reused
The department has design guidelines for storm surge and sea level rise that are informed by the Unified Sea Level Rise Projection
The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department invested more than $599 million in water and sewer infrastructure during fiscal year 2022-2023
Resilient Florida Grants fund projects to ensure the sustained operation of water and wastewater systems during and following extreme events