There are many aspects to the efficient operation of water networks, and these can be quantified as measures for improving water network efficiency. They will include:
Maintaining uninterrupted supplies to customers by early awareness
Maintaining satisfactory water quality in the conveyance of water in the network from treatment to customer consumption.
Understanding Demand for targeting losses and for water production planning
Achieving reductions in water losses in the network and in customer connections
Managing the efficient use of water by domestic and non-domestic customers
Achieving calm networks in the trunk and distribution mains boundaries, valve operations, reducing circular flow paths, resolving anomalies and cross-connections.
Replacement of assets associated with high failure frequencies and their impacts on supplies, water quality and losses.
Achieving reductions in energy consumption by reduction in losses and the optimised utilisation of water sources and storage.
Overall, the efficient operation of water networks provides resilience for maintaining supplies in periods of water shortage and with the challenges of increasing population, exacerbated by climate change.
The upstream network infrastructure of trunk mains, service reservoirs and pumping stations are the arteries in water networks. They convey the water from treatment to the downstream district areas and provide the pressure to district areas where customers are connected. Any events and failures that occur in the upstream network will have major impacts on the customer supplies. Events and failures that occur in the district areas themselves will generally be isolated from the rest of the network.
It is important therefore to distinguish between the efficient operation of upstream and downstream parts of the water network. The upstream has to be seen as a total network for monitoring, analyses and actions to improve water network efficiency. The downstream can be related to each of the district areas and managing the demand within them comprising water consumption and water losses.
Awareness of the water network status is derived from the ingest and analyses of all available data. Several stages of data capture and analyses will each provide insights and solutions in support of operational actions. The data will come from the water operator’s SCADA system integration, Telemetry, Corporate Systems data and Vendors cloud data.
The Netbase Platform is a cutting-edge system for the continuous data capture and the comprehensive daily and intraday analyses of the data in relation to the operational status of the water network, including:
Network supply and demand status derived from monitored bulk and district meters flows, pressure monitoring points and tank levels tracking from Sources to SRs, PSs, zones and district areas.
Network performance data derived from the GIS, customer billing, customer contacts, work management repairs, asset maintenance data, smart network sensors data and events data.
Customer use data and losses derived from Smart meter consumption data.
Netbase produces in-depth analyses and insights for both the upstream and downstream parts of water networks. It contains end-to-end solutions that support all aspects of the efficient operation of water network management, including:
Monitored data insights and alerts on potential failures.
Daily supply / demand and leakage levels for all areas and zones.
Operability status and prioritisation of operational and leakage activities for the upstream sections and the downstream district areas.
Web applications for operational awareness, planning and completing investigations, leakage and operational response activities.
Operational hydraulic modelling for items such as determining impacts of events on customers, the locations of leaks, determining assets for renewal and deriving alternative supply scenarios for production planning.
For more information about Netbase and how it can help you gain insights and analysis on the upstream and downstream parts of your water network, please get in touch with Crowder Consulting today.