Managing water infrastructure poses increasingly complex challenges for local governments and water utilities across Australia. Aging assets, the impacts of climate change and financial pressures can make maintaining water and wastewater infrastructure expensive and resource-demanding. To overcome these challenges, SUEZ recommends four steps water service providers can take to build resilient and reliable water supply systems for their communities.
Communities increasingly expect Australian councils and water utilities to implement sustainable water management solutions that preserve resources and reduce bill costs. As the world continues to face climate change threats, local governments are struggling to deliver proactive, disaster-resilient water infrastructure and efficiently repair assets.
Global water management company, SUEZ, recently released its strategic plan, which outlines the challenges facing water and wastewater management and how innovation, new technology and community engagement can help councils solve these issues.
Through its new research and development commitments, SUEZ is helping local water service providers apply global solutions to help assets throughout their entire lifecycle.
Here are four steps to successfully and proactively future-proof water assets.
1. Embrace digital technologies
With limited budgets, local governments often struggle to allocate sufficient resources to improving aging water infrastructure. Unfortunately, this leads to increased costs in the long run. Investing in digital solutions can help streamline processes, reducing costs and repair times.
Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices, such as smart metres, can allow for accurate, instantaneous collection of asset data, providing a strong foundation for data analysis.
Central Highlands Water (CHW), a water and wastewater utility in servicing the Central Highlands region in Victoria, has recently implemented a digital transformation strategy that intends to deliver numerous benefits to CHW stakeholders, customers and community.
CHW has entered into a contract with SUEZ to upgrade its fleet of existing water meters across the entire service region, with 75,000 fully integrated smart water meters. This new technology will be rolled out between 2023 and 2026.
The digital metering of CHW’s water network will enable improved customer experience with the availability of real-time data, providing complex usage information to customers and speeding up any asset repairs.
CHW’s Managing Director, Jeff Haydon, said, “The new digital metres will revolutionise the way we work, delivering a large number of benefits to our community and importantly improving our customers’ experience. The automation of the meter reading process and remote gathering of data improves safety for our team offers a range of environmental benefits and time efficiencies.”
2. Implement circular water and wastewater solutions through digital meters
In the face of climate change, industry regulations and aging infrastructure, it is critical that water service providers find circular, sustainable solutions for water networks to continue to provide essential services to communities.
Digital meters can help councils and water utilities to understand how to reduce water usage among communities and be proactive in maintaining assets to meet demand.
Efficient data also supports the growth and development of climate policies, along with climate change adaptation and region resilience. Digital solutions can unlock valuable insights, better communicate with end-users, streamline processes and deliver reliable water services to local communities.
SUEZ’s AQUADVANCED Water Networks is a software solution that assists with water network management and the preservation of water resources. It allows water service providers to detect leaks, monitor networks in real-time and improve the quality of service to the community.
SUEZ’s Business Development Manager, Laurence Daly, said, “Our digital water solutions enhance operational efficiency, promote responsible water usage, reduce waste and enable our customers to proactively manage their water assets.
“By leveraging this data-driven approach, we can work with customers to identify inefficiencies, leaks, and areas for improvement. This helps them to optimise water allocation, storage and distribution, reducing the risk of shortages or overuse.”
3. Bring global solutions to local communities
To address local management challenges, water service providers should look to innovative solutions being implemented across the globe.
For SUEZ, the company’s water management solutions have been refined through worldwide experience, ensuring the effectiveness and reliability of its technologies. These solutions enable SUEZ to provide customers with valuable insights into addressing specific water management challenges that can be adapted to the local Australian and New Zealand environment.
Adopting proven water management techniques can also accelerate progress, avoiding the need for trial and error with a technology that hasn’t been tried and tested. The exchange of knowledge between countries also fosters collaboration, enabling shared learning and the potential for further innovation in water management practices.
One of these solutions is WIZE, an innovative approach to Long Range, Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology designed to deliver bi-directional radio communication and connect hard-to-access objects. For local digital metering, this offers real-time communication, data security and wide-area coverage, connecting thousands of meters across a single network.
SUEZ has already deployed more than 3.5 million connected water meters using WIZE technology across Europe.
Mr Daly said, “Digital meters and innovative supporting technologies are able to provide customers with exact water usage readings in near real time, vastly improving the efficiency of water management.
“We shouldn’t be limiting water providers by domestic trials. Australian councils and water utilities deserve to reap the benefits of global innovations.”
4. Adopt a collaborative approach
In an era of mounting challenges such as population growth, climate change and aging infrastructure, councils continue to face the task of securing the future of their water assets. To successfully tackle these complex issues, a collaborative approach is paramount.
By fostering partnerships, engaging stakeholders and embracing partners with innovative solutions, councils and water utilities can future-proof water assets and ensure sustainable water management – now and into the future.
Water service providers can tap into shared knowledge, resources and expertise by establishing partnerships with government agencies, academic institutions and community organisations.
Through collaborative research projects, data sharing and joint initiatives, councils and water utilities can leverage the collective wisdom of diverse stakeholders to develop robust strategies based on co-creation.
Engaging stakeholders is vital to ensure inclusive decision-making and foster a sense of ownership among the community. By involving local communities, businesses and environmental groups in the planning process, water service providers can gather valuable insights, address concerns and build consensus around the future of their water assets.
Regular consultations, workshops and public hearings are effective tools for gathering input and fostering meaningful dialogue.
Integrated planning is another critical aspect of a collaborative approach. This enables the development of comprehensive water management plans that account for factors such as population growth, climate change and infrastructure needs.
Councils and water utilities can align strategies with long-term goals and sustainability principles to identify vulnerabilities, prioritise investments, and optimise the use of their resources.
Also essential to collaboration is embracing emerging technologies and data-driven solutions. Water service providers can also leverage smart water systems, sensor networks and advanced analytics to proactively monitor and maintain their water assets. This enables them to detect and address issues promptly, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure the resilience of their infrastructure.
Digital solutions for future success
Through harnessing the true potential of their water assets, councils and water utilities hold the key to a sustainable and thriving future.
By investing in infrastructure, adopting efficient technologies and promoting conservation through near real-time data, water service providers can maximise the value of water management across their assets’ entire lifecycles.
Collaboration, engagement with stakeholders, and innovative thinking will enable councils and water utilities to unlock new opportunities and overcome challenges.
For SUEZ, water is the lifeblood of communities, ecosystems, and economies. With wise stewardship and a vision for the future, water service providers can ensure that their water assets flow reliably, nurturing growing communities for generations to come.
This sponsored editorial is brought to you by SUEZ. For more information, visit www.suez.com/en/australia-new-zealand.
