Digital analytics’ crucial role in water management

Currently, the estimated daily personal water consumption rate in the UK is on average 142 l/day (as per 2020), equating to an estimated total daily usage of 14 billion litres per day. Worldwide, climate change will have a significant impact on the volume of useable freshwater. By 2025 it has been estimated that two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages.

Action is required now to reduce demand, increase supply and apply the principles of a circular economy to meet future freshwater requirements. There could be enough water to meet the world’s growing needs, but only if we dramatically change the way water is used, managed, and shared. 

In recent years, the availability of inexpensive computing power and measurement databases has enabled the development of powerful data analysis techniques that allow metering networks to be monitored daily. Such techniques can give operators details about meter performance and leakage, and are much more effective than the traditional water balance calculation over the distribution network. 

Flow measurement

Flow metering is essential for measuring water usage and managing water supplies. Most water meters around the world are small and primarily used to record domestic water consumption. However, larger meters, whilst smaller in number, measure an equivalent volume of water and are key to managing both resource and demand. It is principally through the use of larger meters that we quantify how much water is being abstracted from underground aquifers, rivers and other water bodies to provide clean water supplies to our cities. Both small and large meters are therefore essential for effective, economic and sustainable water management.

Such techniques can give operators details about meter performance and leakage, and are much more effective than the traditional water balance calculation over the distribution network

The need for accurate measurement on large diameter transmission (trunk) mains is of vital importance to the global water industry, to optimise water resources, accurately estimate leakage and calculate the water balance across the water distribution system. A significant proportion of modern flow meters rely on assumptions about the flow profile in the pipe. Bends, valves, and other pipe components upstream of the measurement device will affect the assumed flow profile and the accuracy of the meter.

Modern digital analysis techniques  

TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory has undertaken extensive research into digital analytical techniques to improve the information gathered by modern flow meters. This is based on a huge database which has been created by testing a range of different flowmeters under a range of different conditions.

Failure to protect significant metering investments, by not complementing it with modern and cost-effective data analysis techniques, risks increased capital and operational expenditure

We have developed a range of data-driven models for the oil and gas industry, and these are now being considered for use in the water industry. These models include:

• Condition-based monitoring (CBM): CBM can be used to determine the health of the flow meter and also to monitor the calibration requirements of the device to understand if it’s possible to move from a time-based calibration approach to a more dynamic calibration approach.
• Data validation and reconciliation (DVR): One cost-effective way of increasing confidence in flow meter data accuracy is to use a technique known as DVR. This is a statistical method used to evaluate the quality of flow measurement in many different types of industrial plant, from simple systems consisting of only a few measurements to complicated systems with several hundred.
• Fault prediction analysis: By making use of historical data and using machine learning techniques it should be possible to predict where leakage is likely to occur in the water networks.

Combining multiple data analysis techniques such as these will allow modern software techniques to be developed that will enable water companies to:

• Verify the performance of modern electronic flow meters
• Perform network analysis and identify leakage in their networks
• Predict where leakage events may happen in the future

The most valuable asset

Optimising data utilisation is an operational imperative, especially to water companies under environmental, regulatory and resource pressure. Failure to protect significant metering investments, by not complementing it with modern and cost-effective data analysis techniques, risks increased capital and operational expenditure through poor targeting of effort.

Therefore, smart metering and network analysis will have to be used together this will give water companies more confidence in their data, alongside their investment decisions and operational expenditure levels. The application of these techniques, along with the recent advances in electronics and computing power, will give water companies the tools to meet the challenges facing them in the 21^st century.

Carl Wordsworth is head of water sector at TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory