Smart water metering and IoT sensors are at the centre of transforming water management, writes Vadim Lyu, Managing Director, Netmore UK
As the global demand for sustainable water management intensifies, utilities are adopting advanced technologies to optimise water distribution, reduce waste, and enhance efficiency. At the forefront of this transformation is Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), supported by smart meters and other IoT-enabled devices, low-power wide-area networks like LoRaWAN, and versatile applications that collectively revolutionise how water resources are monitored and managed.
Devices: capturing data for real-time monitoring and proactive management
Smart water meters and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are at the heart of modern AMI systems. These devices continuously collect and transmit data on water flow, pressure, and usage patterns, allowing utilities to respond swiftly to issues like leaks or abnormal consumption. This approach minimiises water loss and helps utilities optimise resource allocation, reducing costs and improving service reliability.
For instance, Yorkshire Water has embraced this strategy by partnering with Netmore to deploy over 1.3 million LoRaWAN-connected smart meters across its infrastructure. This large-scale deployment, one of Europe’s most significant water metering projects, aims to reduce water leakage by 50% by 2050 against a 2020 baseline. The LoRaWAN-enabled meters offer enhanced coverage and reliability, even in challenging geographic areas, empowering Yorkshire Water to monitor properties with continuous flow and quickly address potential leaks.
Networks: the backbone of sustainable infrastructure
The success of AMI relies heavily on comprehensive, scalable networks, and this is where LoRaWAN excels. Proven for its long-range capabilities and efficient power consumption, LoRaWAN is ideal for large-scale smart meter deployments across various terrain and geographies. Its use of unlicensed frequency bands ensures cost-effective connectivity, particularly in remote or underserved areas where traditional infrastructure may be lacking. This is critical for utilities seeking to monitor water resources comprehensively, especially in rural regions prone to unregulated or inefficient water use.
The partnership between Netmore and Yorkshire Water highlights the value of LoRaWAN networks in addressing diverse challenges. By utilising LoRaWAN technology, Yorkshire Water can extend its metering capabilities beyond urban centers, reaching rural areas where water consumption is often harder to monitor. This expanded coverage ensures a more efficient and sustainable approach to managing the UK’s water resources.
Digitalisation, resource efficiency, and sustainability are becoming increasingly interconnected as more utilities adopt smart technologies. Providing seamless communication and data transfer between various devices and systems is becoming more complex and only with advanced network delivery and device management capabilities will AMI and other infrastructure modernisation efforts to be viable at scale.
Applications: expanding from AMI to comprehensive infrastructure management
Beyond just metering, wireless networks deployed for AMI can support a host of additional applications. Once a robust network is in place, utilities can leverage it for diverse use cases, such as:
- Comprehensive water infrastructure monitoring: utilising advanced technologies such as IoT sensors and LoRaWAN networks, utilities can monitor the condition of pipes, valves, and tanks in real-time. This proactive approach allows for early detection of issues, reducing the risk of leaks and failures while optimising maintenance schedules to ensure reliable water distribution
- Sewer and river quality monitoring: by deploying sensors to monitor water quality, utilities can quickly identify contaminants and address environmental risks
- Smart city integration: these networks can also support applications beyond water management, including energy monitoring, air quality assessments, and public safety systems
Utilities that leverage AMI with a scalable LoRaWAN network position themselves to expand into other IoT applications, driving greater efficiency and sustainability across operations.
The future of water management and digital infrastructure
The rapid adoption of AMI and IoT technologies is indeed reshaping the water industry, with utilities increasingly embracing digital transformation to build integrated systems that support a wide range of smart city initiatives. By layering multiple applications on a single network, utilities and municipalities are maximising their return on infrastructure investments while contributing to broader sustainability goals.
The deployment of AMI networks is just the first step in this transformation. Once the network infrastructure is in place, utilities and municipalities can leverage it for a variety of applications, from water quality monitoring to flood detection, to smart lighting and waste management. This comprehensive approach not only drives operational efficiency and cost savings but also aligns with global sustainability targets and improves customer engagement.
As utilities look to modernise their operations, they should consider partnering with experienced providers that offer scalable, future-proof solutions. Choosing the right technology partner gives utilities a foundation for long-term success, improving their ability to manage resources efficiently, enhancing customer service, and enabling them to adapt to future challenges in water management.
Vadim Lyu, Managing Director, Netmore UK, is a seasoned Senior Management Executive with over 14 years of diverse global experience. His expertise spans across commercial development in the telecom industry, including B2B strategy, marketing, sales, service, and product development.
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