Just a few years back, phrases like ‘Digital Water’ or ‘Digital Transformation’ began making their way into conversations within the water industry. In the last decade, terms like ‘Digital Water’ and ‘Digital Transformation’ have gained traction in the water industry. Prior to that, ‘Smart Water’ was the buzzword, and before that, it was ‘Water 4.0’ and ‘Industry 4.0’. It’s worth noting that currently, new terms are still emerging, with references to Industry 5.0 and 6.0. However, the label is less important than the practical implications. So, what does ‘Digital Water’ actually mean for the water industry today? 

It encompasses a wide array of elements, ranging from cutting-edge IoT sensors to digital renderings of pumping stations and treatment facilities, and the present-day marvel: the Digital Twin. Even the term ‘Digital Twin’ can hold different meanings for different people – for some, it represents a model, while for others, it stands as an all-encompassing source of insight into system performance. In my own experience, the most effective illustration that facilitated an understanding of Digital Water was presented by the Smart Water Networks (SWAN) Forum back in 2011. 

The SWAN Layers, fashioned after the earlier Purdue Model, provide a structured framework for comprehending Digital Water by dividing it into distinct layers: physical assets (Layer 1), instrumentation (Layer 2), communications (Layer 3), visualisation (Layer 4), and ultimately, data analysis and conversion into actionable insights (Layer 5). Two layers were notably absent from this model: i2O Water. 

In the past 12 years, many others have added or contributed to the SWAN layers. However, the system already sufficiently summarises the horizontal layers of a data and information management system. 

The weakness of the SWAN layers lies in its inherent technological orientation. In the realm of Digital Water, it’s imperative to acknowledge that there are other crucial perspectives to take into account, such as those related to business systems and human resources. While the SWAN Layers represented a pivotal paradigm shift in the industry and continue to do so, we must also factor in the business drivers. To achieve this, we must assess their requirements by scrutinising how the industry has evolved since the introduction of digital water solutions. 

To put this into context, the area of the water industry where we have probably seen the most development, is leakage or non-revenue water reduction. Technologies have been developed and integrated into water company systems to discover leaks. We have seen an increase in technologies such as smart sensors in pipes, as well as satellites that use pattern recognition to highlight areas with an increased likelihood of water leaking into the ground. The industry is starting to see the development of digital solutions in the wastewater network as well, using machine learning and monitoring within the sewer environment to find and prevent blockages. This is indeed important as we know the environment is at a greater risk of pollution through sewer overflows because of sewer misuse. 

When delving into the origins of digital water, much like any technological approach in any industry, it’s crucial to grasp its practical application. Personally, when I contemplate what I seek from Digital Water, I always return to the fundamentals. The global water industry generates vast volumes of data daily, yet only a fraction of it finds meaningful utilisation. To extract value from this data, the initial step is understanding the information requirements – from the CEO of the company to the frontline operator – and then aligning them with the data sources, changing the data strategy to suit. However, this marks just the inaugural phase. Once this foundational work is accomplished, the subsequent stride involves translating the information requirements into tangible business drivers. 

This is what Digital Water means to me. Let us know what Digital Water means to you. The Digital Water Summit on 14-16 November 2023 in Bilbao, Spain, is the ideal arena to continue this discussion. I invite you to join me there by registering today: www.digitalwatersummit.org or join the conversation online using #DigitalWaterSummit 

In today’s changing world, the influence of digital technologies can be seen in nearly every sector. The water utility sector is no exception. But how is the digital transformation impacting the water sector and what are the drivers behind it? What are its key-enabling technologies?  

These are some of the questions addressed in a recent open-access study published in npj Clean Water. The study, led by a team of researchers from TU Berlin-ECDF and international collaborators from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Politecnico di Milano, KWR Water Research Institute, and Griffith University, sheds light on the current state of digital transformation in water utilities through a global perspective. 

Climate change and urbanisation have put water security in the spotlight. Water utilities worldwide are facing a double-edged sword: while they are directly impacted by climate change, their own operations contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Digital technologies have shown promising results in making utilities more sustainable and their operations more efficient through the urban water cycle. 

Sixty-four utilities from 28 countries replied to our online Smart Water Survey, and their answers reveal a clear trend: digital transformation has already taken root in the water utility sector, regardless of the unique challenges faced by each region and different paces of technology adoption. Big and small, public and private, recent and more experienced utilities have all started embracing the wave of digitalisation, reshaping the way they operate and manage resources. Another major contribution of our study is the identification of the drivers and key technologies enabling the digital transformation of water utilities. Learning from utilities that are leading the digital transformation journey enables other utilities to make informed decisions about their digital strategy, allowing them to prioritise the adoption of specific technologies based on their degree of penetration, effectiveness, and best practices. 

Geographical distribution of water utilities that responded to the Smart Water Survey. Colored circles represent the location of the 64 water utilities that provided complete responses to the survey (after data cleaning). Each circle is placed in the geographical center of a country, with the color bar indicating the number of respondents per country. In total, respondent utilities were from 28 countries worldwide.

Key Drivers and Enabling Technologies 

Our study wraps up with three main insights: 

1. Water supply and distribution systems often act as a catalyst for further technology adoption in the entire urban water cycle.  
2. Prospective economic benefits are still the primary driving force behind the digitalisation efforts of water utilities. This means that beyond the obvious advantages of sustainability and streamlined operations, utilities are motivated by the potential economic gains digitalisation can offer, followed by government regulation and hydroclimatic factors.  
3. Different subdivisions of the urban water cycle are adopting digital technologies at varying speeds, resulting in a diverse landscape of technology adoption.  

Penetration of digital technologies in different water utility subdivisions. The technology availability score (TAS) is computed for individual technologies and refers to their application to individual subdivisions in the entire water utility sector: a WS; b WD; c WW; d CD; and e IT. TAS values of 0 indicate low penetration and availability of a given technology, and values of 3 indicate high penetration and availability.

For a more in-depth analysis of these main findings, be sure to check out the full paper! 

Towards a digital water future 

Our survey also highlights a need for continued research and monitoring. While certain drivers of digital transformation were identified, we couldn’t establish a direct link between these drivers and the actual progress of digitalisation in practice. Other questions remain open, besides expanding the coverage of interviewed utilities and disentangling local nuances that can affect a utility’s digitalisation progress.  What is the role of individual leadership in driving the digital transformation? How can policy facilitate impact-oriented technology development? What is the role of consumers in a utility’s decision-making processes? Answering these questions requires future monitoring of technology uptake in the water utility sector. 

As we move towards a digital future, water utilities must stay vigilant, embracing innovation and exploring the untapped potential of technology in pursuit of water security and climate resilience. The journey towards a digitally empowered water utility sector has just begun, and it promises to reshape the way we manage our most precious resource.  

We invite you to read our full study and join us on the digital water journey by registering for the IWA Digital Water Summit in Bilbao on 14-16 November 2023. Registration is now open. 

Article citation 

Adapted from: Daniel, I., Ajami, N.K., Castelletti, A. et al. A survey of water utilities’ digital transformation: drivers, impacts, and enabling technologies. npj Clean Water 6, 51 (2023). doi.org/10.1038/s41545-023-00265-7  under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Young Water Professionals from around the world joined forces to organise a full-day workshop at the recent IWA Water Resource Recovery Modelling Seminar (WRRMOD2022+) in Stellenbosch, South Africa on 18-22 January 2023. Co-chaired by Eugene Fotso Simo (National Coordination Lead – Water Institute of Southern Africa – YWP & Zutari, South Africa) and Nerea Uri Carreño (Chair of IWA-YWP Denmark & VCS Denmark), the workshop organising committee was exclusively composed of YWPs from around the world, including Cameroon, Nigeria, Denmark, South Africa, USA, Canada, Rwanda, Togo, Tanzania and more.  

The Resource Recovery Seminar was organised by the University of Cape Town’s Water Research Group (WRG) with Prof David Ikumi as the Organising Chair, and with the support of The International Water Association (IWA) and the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA). WRRMOD2022+ brought together leading global actors in the modelling field to discuss advances in the modelling of Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRF) and to build consensus on debated topics such as digital twins and the validation and calibration of models.  

Kicking off the seminar, the YWP workshop on 18 January consisted of presentations and sessions from junior professionals at the forefront of modelling across the globe. The workshop went through the development and evolution of models in a chronological sequence. The main themes covered were: 

• Origins and advancements of wastewater treatment plant modelling 
• The transition from modelling of treatment to resource recovery and full-scale applications 
• Future of WRRF modelling 
• YWP’s vision for WRRF modelling 

The main takeaways from YWPs after this knowledge-packed workshop were as follows: 

• The context will be crucial in the development of models in the future 
• Information sharing will be the new norm amongst practitioners and researchers
• With the technological advances in modelling and digital water, cybersecurity must be implemented to avoid risks
• To improve models and facilities, better stakeholder engagement is needed as part of the model development process

Having a full-day workshop planned, executed, and fully run by YWPs helped them gain significant skills. The workshop was also an opportunity to create a global community of YWP modellers, with the hope of continuing interactions and engagements as part of this dynamic group of modellers in the future.  

The rest of the seminar was made up of workshops, platform presentations and poster presentations. Some of the topics covered included: 

• Water reuse modelling 
• Hybrid models 
• Digital twins 
• CFD models and more…

Over a hundred participants attended the seminar, which was an overall success with excellent feedback.

The first-ever Digital Water Summit organised by the IWA will soon be taking place in Bilbao from 29 November – 2 December 2022. The Summit is a B2B event with key players from the water digitalisation sector. Chema Nebot, Business Development Director at Idrica, an international water technology company specialising in smart solutions and services for the industry, comments on the importance and challenges of digital sustainability in the sector.

Q: What is digital sustainability and why is it important?

Chema Nebot – Digital sustainability is a concept that is gaining increasing importance in the water sector. Nowadays, water utilities often struggle to integrate and exploit the data gathered from sensors and other digital management tools provided by different vendors. Our GoAigua platform can integrate data from all technologies and vendors to ensure water utilities can extract its value. Digital sustainability means that the data collected now and in the future is always accessible. It also means that the entire company speaks the same language, and has the same data for building indicators and making decisions.

The key to digital sustainability is forward thinking: figuring out how data can be used in the future. It’s not just about focusing on what we are managing right now, but also about the information we will need in the future to provide safe drinking water. It’s about combining all the data and indicators from different departments into a single data model in the utility.

Q: What steps can water utilities take to improve digitalisation?

CN: I believe that digitalisation within water utilities can be improved and harnessed through seamless data integration. Organisations need to speak the same language. The key is to combine data, emphasise the importance of IT departments within the utility and lever its extensive knowledge and know-how. Utilities are seeing the value of smart water solutions, and are implementing digital transformation plans.

Q: Do you have any specific projects and examples currently underway which could help utilities navigate the world of data and digitalisation?

CN: Yes, definitely. Our smart water platform is the result of the digital transformation process at the water utility Global Omnium, which started over a decade ago.

This platform is being used successfully by utilities around the world. For instance, the Spanish city of Valencia is saving 4M m3 of water per year thanks to technology. The software also optimises energy consumption, a topic which is particularly relevant at the moment due to skyrocketing energy prices in Europe. In other regions, like North America, we have reduced storm sewer overflows by over 70% in the city of Houston.

Overall, such case studies show there is a huge need for smart water solutions. Digital sustainability can be a means to use all this data for decision-making today and tomorrow.

The application of Digital Twins in the global water industry is a hot topic and I’m encouraged that the benefits of these innovative tools are being more widely recognized – whether its optimizing operational performance or facilitating knowledge transfer in an aging workforce. The industry is beginning to realize how the active use of digital twins delivers much more value from the existing plant data for both operations and management.

I was fortunate to work on the industry’s first ever Digital Twin of an entire used water treatment plant when Jacobs partnered with PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, to develop a whole plant simulation model for the Changi Water Reclamation Plant (WRP). While there was industry interest in the real-time control of operational systems and processes at water and wastewater treatment plants, there had previously been no simulation models covering all operational aspects of treatment.

Our pioneering work with PUB on the Changi Digital Twin was be recognised with a Project Innovation Award at the World Water Congress in Copenhagen, and I wanted to take that opportunity to review the benefits of the project – and demonstrate why it should be replicated elsewhere.

The integrated model we developed for the Changi WRP combines laboratory and automated real-time data input from supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems with software simulation packages (Replica and Sumo) to integrate hydraulics, process, controls, and data analytics into a single platform. The resulting Digital Twin is capable of replicating plant operations and predicting future performance in real-time.

The aim of the project is to provide PUB and plant users with the ability to explore and simulate various operational conditions using a dynamic simulation model to enhance water quality, conduct scenario planning, and improve operator training.

The model’s predictive modelling capability also forewarns operators of potential process deviations at hourly intervals at up to five days into the future, providing greater assurance that the final water product is of consistently high quality. In addition, the model continuously adjusts its calibration within defined ranges to match the plant’s observed performance via machine learning. This keeps the simulations relevant to real operations without requiring continual intervention from staff.

Since the digital twin can be run independently of the actual system, it could serve as a platform for operator training, with automated customizable scenarios that facilitate knowledge transfer to new staff. With Singapore and PUB expecting an increasingly ageing workforce in the future, there is a need to capture domain expertise in wastewater treatment and plant operations as well as institutional knowledge. A tool built to replicate the actual controls and hydraulics in a safe environment, and the ability to predict possible outcomes that are based on the actual science of physical, chemical, and biological reactions, is essential in achieving this goal.

The Changi WRP Digital Twin represents an important milestone for the global water industry – particularly as it was applied to the entirety of one of the largest and most sophisticated water reclamation  plants in the world. Used water  treatment plants are more complicated to operate and simulate as biological processes are more sensitive to variations in influent used water quality and a process upset typically takes many days to recover. A Digital Twin, however, facilitates improved insight and optimization at facilities with reduced risk of upsets – making it easier for plant operators to ensure operational excellence.

Mr Yong Wei Hin, PUB’s Director of the WRP Department, shared his thoughts on the Changi Digital Twin being recognised with a Project Innovation Award:

“Like many utilities, Singapore faces the challenge of increasing water demand and the impacts of climate change on our water resources, such as more intense rainfall and longer dry spells. We adapt by embracing digitalisation and adopting new technologies that can optimise our operational capabilities and enhance resilience,” Mr Yong said. “The digital twin at the Changi Water Reclamation Plant is one such initiative. It is a plant simulation model with predictive capabilities that can be used to test operational changes, improve operator training and more. We are grateful for this award, which will spur us to continue tapping on smart technologies, as PUB strives to become a Smart Utility of the Future.”

As the digital transformation of the global water industry accelerates, I expect to see more water and wastewater utilities turn to Digital Twins – and I hope that our application at the Changi WRP serves as a foundational blueprint.

We are nearing a ‘moment’ where digital adoption by many water utilities in low- and middle-income countries is increasingly in reach. Technologies are maturing at the same time as many of the fundamental ingredients needed for adoption are increasingly in place. This blog provides a summary of recent research conducted by the GSMA , delivered in partnership with Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), on digital adoption by four water utilities in Kenya.

Read the report: Water Utility Digitalisation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Experiences from the Kenyan water sector

Digital adoption by Kenyan water utilities

The motivation for our work with WSUP stemmed from the fact that we are still unable to answer some very basic questions surrounding digital adoption. What’s the proportion of utilities accepting digital payments, how many have digitalised customer relationships, or use smart meters? We simply don’t have good answers to these questions at the moment. Furthermore, beyond understanding just which specific digitalisation initiatives have been undertaken we have a limited understanding of the processes utilities move through in progressive digitalisation. And as highlighted in a recent systematic review of the literature on LMIC adoption, we are also lacking good data on the costs and benefits of these initiatives.

The work we did was a ‘small N’ study, and looked in-depth at just a few utilities, and in no way addresses all of the big questions above. Nonetheless, it is one of the few pieces that takes a detailed look at digital adoption processes over a longer period. For that reason, we hope that it is a useful resource in drawing attention to LMIC digitalisation and can serve as inspiration for further work.

The four utilities in this research serve three of Kenya’s four largest cities. Combined, they are responsible for the water services of more than six million people, employ over 4,000 people and have an annual turnover of 11 billion Kenyan Shillings (about USD 104 million). In short, they are some of the larger and better-performing water utilities in Kenya. The aims of this work were to build detailed case studies, mapping the use of technology across six key domains, to build a clearer picture of patterns in digital adoption. Though there was of course variation between the utilities we found that generally there were some common progressions at different points in time:

• Pre-2015– the initial stages of digitalisation generally focused on payments and digitalising some specific utility functions like meter reading and billing.

• 2015–2019– here there was more of a focus on overhauling customer relationships and engagement, including web and social media presence. Many utilities also started piloting different smart meters or smart-ready meters and GIS mapping their customers.

• 2019–present– after implementing some of the specific initiatives above, focus shifted more to digital systems, and overhauling their ERP systems to create single digital environments and lay the foundations for more advanced solutions. There was also an increased focus on deploying smart meters for household connections and kiosks.

The full report contains an analysis of the factors that act as a barriers or enablers, and a summary of some key lessons. For the sake of brevity, we do not discuss them in this blog.

Where to next?

As part of the research, five key opportunities were identified for the utilities. These were written in reference to the Kenyan water sector but have been adapted here to highlight their broader relevance.

• Stronger peer learning between utilities could support more effective implementation. In many cases, we observed the experience of one utility held lessons for others. Some of the workshops we hosted were the first time utilities had the opportunity to exchange directly on digitalisation. There is scope here for leadership from a wide range of stakeholders working with utilities to take on this convening role.

• Better documentation of the pros and cons and the costs of digitalisation initiatives would equip utilities to make more informed decisions. Robust data on these are still relatively limited, leaving utilities in the dark in making procurement and investment decisions. Regulators codifying learning in guidance could also be beneficial in many contexts.

• Advanced metering (including PAYG solutions) and network monitoring and control remains frontier tech for many utilities.  In Kenya these were the technologies most likely to address non-revenue water (NRW) losses, which were still only at the piloting stages of implementation.

• Digitally enabled financing solutions are increasingly becoming available. Innovative and flexible financing is already underway as new players emerge and new funds are developed by existing players.

• Stronger partnerships with mobile operators could offer new opportunities. Many of the digital solutions discussed in the report have mobile services at their core, making mobile operators an important partner for utilities, and there is scope to extend these partnerships beyond simple integrations.

While the utilities were selected for their size and as we knew of specific digitalisation initiatives, the research team was genuinely surprised at how far and fast the utilities were moving, with little documentation or attention. Our suspicion is that this is the case with many more utilities across African and Asian markets, and that there is likely much more we have to learn.

There are many encouraging initiatives in this area. For example, the IWA’s Digital Transformation Hub seeks to collect digitalisation case studies from utilities, takes open submissions, and would certainly be enriched through LMIC contributions. At World Water Week 2022 the GSMA will be presenting alongside colleagues from the World Bank who have been doing work on developing a Digital Maturity Tool, and in another session with Aqua for All and National Bank Kenya on their experiences with digitally enabled innovative finance. Looking across regions, the findings from our work in Kenya have striking similarities with those emerging from ADB’s work, highlighted in the recently published comprehensive set of case studies cropping up from their e-Marketplaces on Water Security and Resilience.

While all of this work unquestionably adds much, it’s far from a crowded field, and there’s scope for the wide range of stakeholders that work with utilities – regulators, associations, national ministries, donors, and development banks – to take on leadership roles. From our experience there is also certainly demand for this learning to be packaged in practical guidance for utilities, as many are still at those fundamental first steps in their digitalisation journeys.

About the GSMA 

The GSMA Mobile for Development programme works at the intersection of the mobile ecosystem and the development sector to stimulate digital innovation. For over a decade, we have supported digital innovation through a mix of seed grants to innovators, brokering partnerships with mobile operators, research and insights, and advocacy.

The last decade has seen a phenomenal expansion in connectivity and mobile financial services. In 2021 the mobile money ecosystem passed a major milestone, processing over $1 trillion in payments from 1.3 billion registered accounts. And in 2020 the scales tipped so that a majority of the world, over 4 billion people, accessed the internet through a mobile device; with 94 per cent of the global population is now covered by a mobile broadband network. These two changes in particular are critical enablers for digital adoption. Of course, not all digital solutions in water draw on mobile services, but many do, and this is one of the reasons that we include Digital Utilities as one of our focus areas.

Tech solutions and innovations are the mainstays towards a water-wise world. Water Tech Spotlight is a monthly blog that aims to highlight worldwide the latest technology developments in the water industry. Scroll down to find out more.

1. COMPACT SOLUTIONS FOR N&P REMOVAL

Storage and Reaction Tanks of BESWIFT Technology. Cover image Courtesy of BEWG

Recently, Beijing Enterprises Water Group (BEWG) publicly launched two technology products for nitrogen and phosphorus removal: BEAOA and BESWIFT. According to BEWG, after being successfully demonstrated at different scales, BEAOA proves to be an efficient process for denitrification and phosphorus removal while reducing sludge production. BESWIFT has been developed to target low C/N municipal wastewater based on BEWG’s independently developed aerobic granular sludge technology. Coupled with well-configured equipment and an intelligent control system, BESWIFT provides a fit for decentralised treatment, achieving simultaneous N&P removal and low energy consumption. Read more…

2. MACHINE LEARNING FOR MICROPLASTICS MANAGEMENT

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) plate holding microplastic samples(left) and the SEM used for the project (right). Photo by Bin Shi

Microplastics can almost be found anywhere and need to be effectively characterised and quantified to assess their impact on human health. Recently, researchers from the University of Toronto conducted two studies evaluating the use of machine learning to estimate the number of microplastic particles on the basis of aggregate particle weight measurements, and to classify the objects imaged by scanning electron microscopy. This is the first project producing a labelled open-source dataset for microplastics image segmentation. Read more…

3. NEW PORTABLE SEAWATER DESALITATION SYSTEM

Portable Desalination Unit can be driven by a small, portable solar panel. Image courtesy of Dr. Junghyo Yoon

MIT researchers have developed a portable, suitcase-sized desalination unit that can remove particles and salts to generate drinking water with no requirement for high-pressure pumps. This field-deployable system relies on the ion concentration polarization (ICP) technique and multistage electro membrane processes. Less energy is needed to power the unit compared to traditional desalination systems, and deployment in rural areas is much favoured. Read more…

4. KAUMERA EXTRACTION IN A MOBILE DEMO UNIT

Kaumera is a new bio-based raw material that is extracted from Nereda® aerobic granular sludge. Due to its unique property of being fire retardant and the ability to both absorb or repel water, Kaumera has a wide variety of applications. The first large-scale Kaumera plant is located in Zutphen, The Netherlands, and a mobile installation will be operated at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Utrecht. Read more…

5. CHINA’S 3D-PRINTED DAM READY IN 2 YEARS

Chinese scientists say the Yangqu Dam on the Tibetan plateau will be built using AI-controlled machinery applying 3D printing techniques. Photo from Weibo

According to scientists involved in the project, China is planning to 3D print a 180-metre-high hydropower dam on the Tibetan Plateau using unmanned excavators, trucks, bulldozers, pavers and rollers, all controlled by artificial intelligence (AI). The project is expected to be completed by 2024. Once finished, the Yangqu hydropower plant will be able to deliver nearly 5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each year to Henan province. Read more… 

Update from IWA team

Thanks for your interest in reading the monthly Water Tech Spotlight blog. Due to the preparations for the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition (11-15 September 2022, Copenhagen), we will pause the WTS issues until October 2022.

Disclaimer

The International Water Association (IWA) is not liable for any damages arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use WaterTech Spotlight or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using it. The contents of WaterTech Spotlight do not comprise the IWA’s views; they do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should consult your professional adviser for legal or other advice.  IWA is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link in a linked site. IWA is not responsible for any transmission received from any linked site. The links are provided to assist readers and the inclusion of a link does not imply that IWA endorses or has approved the linked site.

Contact: Sophie.Su@iwahq.org

Tech solutions and innovations are the mainstays towards a water-wise world. Water Tech Spotlight is a monthly blog that aims to highlight worldwide the latest technology developments in the water industry. Scroll down to find out more.

1. GROUNDBREAKING GRAPHENE MEMBRANE AT COMMERCIAL SCALE

Roll of NematiQ Graphene Membrane. Image courtesy of NematiQ

The global market for membrane-based water filtration is growing substantially. NematiQ, a subsidiary of Clean TeQ Water, has been developing graphene-based nanofiltration membranes for commercial manufacturing, and has now achieved a major milestone by producing over 1,000m of 1,000mm-wide flat sheet Graphene Membrane on an industrial roll-to-roll coating machine. This energy efficient nanofiltration membrane has been tested and is able to remove contaminants such as dissolved organics for a range of feed waters.

Read more…

2. IDENTIFYING TOXIC MATERIALS IN WATER WITH MACHINE LEARNING

Cover image: UBCO researchers using fluorescence spectroscopy to quickly detect key toxins in tailings ponds water. Image courtesy of UBCO

Recently, researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBCO) have uncovered a new, fast, low-cost and reliable method to quickly identify toxins from oil sands and tailings ponds. The research is published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. The results from the initial sample analysis from fluorescence spectroscopy are processed through an image modelling programme that accurately predicts the composition of the water. A convolutional neural network is used to process data in a grid-like topology, such as an image. Read more…

3. PEN-LIKE SENSOR QUICKLY DETECTS BISPHENOL-A IN WATER

Prototype of the portable device made from graphite, silver particles and polyurethane that detects BPA. Image courtesy of Marina Baccarin/USP

A new design of an electrochemical sensor in a pen-like shape has been developed by researchers from the University of São Paulo’s São Carlos Physics Institute (IFSC-USP) and São Carlos Chemistry Institute (IQSC-USP) in Brazil. Made of graphite, silver nanoparticles and polyurethane, the sensor can analyse chemical pollutants in water, such as bisphenol-A (BPA), an emerging chemical pollutant posing risks to the environment and human health. Thanks to its portability and smart-phone connection features, the device can deliver rapid results without requiring sample collection. An article describing the research is published in Materials Science and Engineering. Read more…

4. 3D TECHNOLOGY IGNITES GREATER BUSHFIRE RESILIENCE

To fortify its bushfire resilience at critical water and wastewater infrastructure sites, SA Water is now leveraging advanced 3D modelling technology based on the detailed photogrammetry captured by drones. This will lead to the development of an Australian-first water industry technical standard. By creating virtual 3D models of the infrastructure, the operators can analyse the assets and identify risks remotely, making it possible to properly schedule the upgrading of specific infrastructure features. Read more… 

5. HARD TO MAKE DECISIONS? APP HELPS

A new tool named ValueDecisions has been developed by researchers from Eawag to deal with decision analysis. The original publication can be found in Environmental Modelling & Software. Based on multi-attribute value theory (MAVT), this open source application provides advanced analysis and visualization with no complex programming expected from users. The app can provide advanced cost-benefit and objective-based analyses. The app calculates and visualises the results of the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) in clear graphical representations and tables and is particularly useful to reach complex decisions involving multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests. The app has already proven itself in research practice for wastewater treatment in Paris and for flood warning West Africa. Read more… 

Disclaimer

The International Water Association (IWA) is not liable for any damages arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use WaterTech Spotlight or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using it. The contents of WaterTech Spotlight do not comprise the IWA’s views; they do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should consult your professional adviser for legal or other advice.  IWA is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link in a linked site. IWA is not responsible for any transmission received from any linked site. The links are provided to assist readers and the inclusion of a link does not imply that IWA endorses or has approved the linked site.

Contact: Sophie.Su@iwahq.org

Tech solutions and innovations are the mainstays towards a water-wise world. Water Tech Spotlight is a monthly blog that aims to highlight worldwide the latest technology developments in the water industry. Scroll down to find out more.

1. NEW DNA COMPUTER ASSESSES WATER QUALITY

Testing water from an area affected by wildfires in California. Image courtesy of Northwestern University

A low-cost, easy-to-use, hand-held device that can determine if the water is safe to drink within minutes has been recently developed at Northwestern University. Using powerful and programmable genetic networks, this new device is able to mimic electronic circuits and thereby perform a range of logic functions, for example, processing an analog input (contaminants) and generating a digital output (a visual signal to inform the user). The research was published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. Read more…

2. PRODUCING GREEN AVIATION FUEL BY CAPTURING CO2 FROM MUNICIPAL WASTE

Green fuel: the conversion of CO₂ from municipal waste. Image courtesy of Veolia

An interdisciplinary consortium of LIPOR (Intermunicipal Waste Management of Greater Porto), P2X Europe and Veolia is launching feasibility studies at the Maia Energy Recovery Plant to produce green synthetic eFuel made of CO₂ from municipal waste. Up to 100,000 tons of biogenic CO₂ can be captured and recycled for conversion into eFuels in its first phase. This innovative technology will facilitate the conversion of waste into resourses and reduction of GHG emission. Read more…

3. NEW SOLAR CANALS TO BE INSTALLED IN CALIFORNIA

Conceptual rendering of spanning the 110 foot-wide TID Main Canal. Image courtesy of Solar Aquagrid LLC

Covering water bodies with solar panels can provide multiple benefits. Project Nexus is a pilot project that responds to the challenges of the energy, water and food nexus in the State of California. The deployment of solar PV panels over water canals reduces the evaporation of water and contributes to the generation of renewable electricity. A win-win game for water, energy and climate! Read more…

4. FRESHWATER FROM THIN AIR

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is one of the promising solutions for freshwater production. A team of researchers from the University of Texas, Austin, have developed a novel “salt-friendly” polyzwitterionic hydrogel that can efficiently harvest large amounts of freshwater from dry air. The study, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie, shows that the basis for the new hydrogel was a polymer constructed from zwitterionic molecules. Hygroscopic salt combined with hydrogel can capture moisture and enhance swelling, leading to enhanced moisture uptake capacity. Read more… 

5. NATURE-INSPIRED REVERSE HURRICANE

Vortexing works by sending water around in a hyperbolic funnel shape. Cover image courtesy of I. Schauberger

Aeration is one of the most energy-intensive processes in water and wastewater treatment and can be costly. To improve the aeration efficiency and cost-effectiveness, researchers from Wetsus have discovered a method of dissolving oxygen into water using a nature-inspired vortex, or whirlpool, that is five times more rapid and much cheaper than the conventional oxygen distribution process using bubble diffusers. The patented method published in the journal Water shows that geometrically constrained vortices in a hyperbolic funnel are a promising aeration technique. Read more… 

Disclaimer

The International Water Association (IWA) is not liable for any damages arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use WaterTech Spotlight or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using it. The contents of WaterTech Spotlight do not comprise the IWA’s views; they do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should consult your professional adviser for legal or other advice.  IWA is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link in a linked site. IWA is not responsible for any transmission received from any linked site. The links are provided to assist readers and the inclusion of a link does not imply that IWA endorses or has approved the linked site.

Contact: Sophie.Su@iwahq.org